Kevin Liles, former president of Def Jam, accused of sexual harassment
As per Variety, the suit filed in New York Supreme Court, accuses Liles of harassment and assault during his tenure as President of Def Jam and EVP of Island Def Jam from 1999 to 2004. The plaintiff, who worked as an executive assistant at the time, claims Liles began harassing her shortly after she started at Def Jam, making degrading comments about her body and appearance.
According to the lawsuit, the harassment escalated between 2000 and 2002, with Liles allegedly engaging in physical contact such as pushing his body against her and grabbing her. In 2002, the plaintiff accuses Liles of forcibly raping her after she rejected his sexual advances. The lawsuit also names Universal Music Group (UMG) and Def Jam, claiming the companies were aware of Liles' behavior and failed to intervene.
Liles has denied the allegations, calling them 'outrageous' and 'slanderous.' In a statement, he expressed his intention to clear his name, adding that his attorneys had not yet seen the lawsuit. Liles also criticized the timing of the suit, claiming the accuser's attorney shared the lawsuit with media outlets before it was filed in court. He emphasized his long-standing reputation for integrity and dedication to empowering women.
The lawsuit was filed under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which was amended in 2022 to allow survivors to pursue legal action even if the statute of limitations had expired. Liles' legal team has vowed to take action against the accuser and her attorney for defamation.
Liles, who recently left his role as CEO of Warner Music's 3000 Elektra Entertainment, has previously been linked to high-profile artists such as D'Angelo, Young Thug, and Mariah Carey.
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