Ousted Recording Academy president/CEO Deborah Dugan — the first female to hold that role in its 62-year history — recently appeared on Good Morning Americawith her attorney Doug Wigdor to discuss the bombshell allegations she made earlier this week.
On Tuesday (January 21), Dugan filed a discrimination complaint against the Academy alleging unlawful gender discrimination, sexual harassment, unlawful retaliation and unequal pay. Now Dugan says she has “evidence” the awards show is “ripe with corruption.”
During the interview with GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos, Dugan discussed the specific part of her complaint that alleges an artist was allowed to sit in on the song of the year nomination committee last year.
“There are incidents of conflicts of interest that taints the results… It’s not even just that one room,” she said. “I have evidence that in another room, cause there were complaints in the jazz category.”
AD LOADING...
As part of her complaint, Dugan also accused the Academy’s legal counsel and former board member Joel Katz of sexual harassment, which she addressed in the GMA interview.
She claims they were at a dinner where Katz referred to her as “babe” several times, commented on her physical appearance and tried to kiss her later in the evening. Katz has denied all claims.
Dugan also mentions she was informed former Grammys CEO Neil Portnow was facing an allegation of rape from a female recording artist and member of the Recording Academy. Portnow has denied any such incident took place as well, calling the allegation “ludicrous” and “untrue.”
Shortly after Dugan filed her complaint, the Recording Academy pushed back and said Dugan had created an unhealthy work environment for her fellow employees.
AD LOADING...
“It is curious that Ms. Dugan never raised these grave allegations until a week after legal claims were made against her personally by a female employee who alleged Ms. Dugan had created a ‘toxic and intolerable’ work environment and engaged in ‘abusive and bullying conduct,'” the statement from the academy read. “When Ms. Dugan did raise her ‘concerns’ to HR, she specifically instructed HR ‘not to take any action’ in response.
“Nonetheless, we immediately launched independent investigations to review both Ms. Dugan’s potential misconduct and her subsequent allegations. Both of these investigations remain ongoing.”
But Wigdor says that’s not the case. He insisted Dugan filed the initial discrimination complaint prior to being placed on administrative leave.
Hip Hop luminary Chuck D, whose group Public Enemy is expected to received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award this year, spoke out on Dugan’s behalf earlier this month, explaining he was disappointed to see the “same old jive” happening behind the scenes at the Academy.
AD LOADING...
Despite the controversy, Dugan says she’s still going to watch the annual awards show on Sunday (January 26).
“I worked very hard on the show, and I love the artists that are going to be performing,” she said. “And I love all those that are nominated that don’t get the honor of being on the show.”
