Tag: misconduct

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Entertainment

Liam Scarlett, Famed Choreographer Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Dies at 35

Liam Scarlett, Famed Choreographer Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Dies at 35

Alastair Macaulay wrote in 2012 for the New York Times about “Viscera,” the piece Mr. Scarlett later created for the Miami City Ballet, that its “images, constructions and textures” showed why Mr. Scarlett had “achieved the status of an important choreographer of classical ballet. “

Speaking to The Times about Mr. Villella in 2014, Mr. Scarlett said, “I owed Eddy a lot because I was very aware that American executives would all watch to see what the outcome would be. After this piece everyone called. “

Mr Scarlett ended his dance career in 2012 and became the Royal Ballet’s first artist in residence that same year. Over the next seven years, he not only created numerous pieces for his home company, but also choreographed works for the Norwegian National Ballet, New York Ballet, American Ballet Theater, England National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the Royal New Zealand Ballet Queensland Ballet, BalletBoyz and Texas Ballet Theater.

Although he was invited to create abstract works as a guest choreographer, his pieces for the Royal Ballet showed his fondness for storytelling. With works such as “Sweet Violets” (2012), a story of Jack the Ripper and murder in Victorian England, “Hansel and Gretel” (2013) and “The Age of Anxiety”, a ballet on the subject of war based on the poem by WH Auden based Mr. Scarlett, who had the same title and was seated on Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2, showed that he was part of a long tradition of dance drama at the Royal Ballet.

In 2016 he created his first full-length work, Frankenstein, a retelling of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel based on a score commissioned by Lowell Liebermann. It received lukewarm reviews both in London and when it was performed by the San Francisco Ballet in 2018. His new version of Swan Lake, performed for the Royal Ballet in 2018, was received with more warmth.

“It’s far from a radical reinvention – the setting and choreography remain close to the nineteenth-century original – but what sets it apart from so many other swan lakes is its attention to dramatic detail,” wrote Judith Mackrell in The Guardian.

Categories
Politics

Potential Cuomo challenger Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct

Potential Cuomo challenger Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct

New York Republican MP Tom Reed was accused by a former lobbyist of rubbing her back while drunk, unhooking her bra and moving his hand over her thigh after a day of ice fishing in Minnesota at an Irish bar in 2017. This was the result of a new report on Friday.

The Washington Post allegation against Reed by today’s U.S. Army Lt. Nicolette Davis, arrives as Reed – co-chair of the so-called bipartisan problem-solving caucus in Congress – is considering running for governor of New York next year.

Current Governor Andrew Cuomo has been accused by more than half a dozen women, including a current employee, of sexually molesting them or of otherwise inappropriately touching or talking to them.

And Reed – who denied Davis’ report as “incorrect” – was one of those who harshly criticized Cuomo and called for the Democratic governor to resign or be charged.

The congressman, who represents New York’s 23rd district, has campaigned for years on behalf of women who have alleged sexual assault and misconduct.

“These incidents of sexual harassment and abuse patterns are heinous and have absolutely no place in our society, let alone in the highest levels of government. Such behavior is worrying and unacceptable,” Reed said of Cuomo last month.

Cuomo has refused to act inappropriately against women and has refused to step down despite leading Democrats calling for it.

A spokesman for Aflac, the insurance company Davis was lobbying at the time of the incident, told CNBC: “Aflac takes these allegations very seriously and above all values ​​the safety and dignity of our employees.”

“When this matter was raised to officers and colleagues who were absent from the event, we immediately provided support and advice to Nicolette so that she could personally determine how to proceed to bring this deeply troubling experience to light.” said the spokesman.

“Aflac continues to support Nicolette 100% as we strongly condemn any form of abuse or harassment.”

Davis told The Post that she was 25 in 2017 when she felt the then 45-year-old Reed’s hand on her back as she sat next to him in a Minneapolis pub after an ice fishing event and similar beneficial activities the campaign committee of the then representative. Erik Paulsen, a Republican from Minnesota.

She told the newspaper that Reed looked drunk during the fishing event and that he slipped and fell on the ice.

Later, when she was sitting next to him at dinner, she told The Post that Reed’s hands began to wander.

“A drunk congressman rubs my back,” said Davis after texting a staff member that evening. “HELP, HELP.”

The Post reported that Davis said she was frozen in fear but asked a person who was in her right to help. This man pulled Reed away from the table and took him out of the pub, she told the paper.

“Davis’ report of Reed’s actions in 2017 was supported by a person sitting at the table that evening,” the Post reported.

“The person said The Post Reed was visibly drunk and put his hand on Davis’ back before being led out of the restaurant while the rest of the group stayed. This person spoke on condition of anonymity and carried out possible career implications at.”

The paper also quoted the woman Davis posted from the bar, Jessica Strieter Elting, who said Davis described how Reed touched her and unhooked her bra. Strieter Elting heads Aflac’s Washington political affairs team.

Brad Knox, a senior vice president at Aflac who was an advisor to the company at the time, told The Post that he recalled Davis telling him that Reed drank and reversed an item of their clothes.

“I wanted to cry because nobody should be exposed to this, especially not a new young lobbyist,” Knox told the newspaper.

Reed’s office issued a statement to CNBC: “This report of my actions is inaccurate,” Reed said of Davis’ allegations. Reed also said, “I stand by my record” for voting on women’s issues.

Davis did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.

A spokesman for the House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Did not immediately respond to an email asking for comment.

Categories
Business

Highly effective German Editor, Accused of Misconduct, Takes Depart

Powerful German Editor, Accused of Misconduct, Takes Leave

The editor-in-chief of Bild, Europe’s largest newspaper and an influential force in German politics and society, has been on leave while a law firm is investigating allegations against him, the publication’s owner said.

Julian Reichelt, the editor, denies allegations of misconduct, said Axel Springer, Bild’s publisher, in a statement. Springer said there was no “clear evidence” of wrongdoing and instead hired the Freshfields law firm to investigate the allegations. It was not stated what they were.

The allegations were first reported by the magazine Spiegel, in which it says that the law firm questioned half a dozen female employees who worked for Bild and complained about coercion by Mr. Reichelt about complaints about coercion by Mr. Reichelt. Spiegel did not name the female employees. The magazine states that Mr. Reichelt was accused of abusing his position of authority and creating a hostile work environment, but did not provide any explicit information.

“In order to ensure that the investigation process can be seen through to the end undisturbed and that the editorial team can work without any further burdens,” said Springer, Mr. Reichelt, “the Axel Springer Management Board has asked to release him from his functions until the allegations are made.” have been clarified. “

Alexandra Würzbach, editor of the Sunday edition of Bild, will take over the tasks of Mr. Reichelt, said Springer.

The #MeToo movement has hit Europe with much less violence than the United States, and cases of powerful men overthrown on allegations of wrongdoing against women have been relatively rare.

Germany and most European countries protect the identity of suspects in legal proceedings, which makes it difficult for the media to report cases of harassment.

Dishes were often unsympathetic. In 2019, a French court ordered the leader of the country corresponding to the #MeToo movement to pay damages to a former television manager whom she accused of making brutal and humiliating advances.

With a circulation of 1.2 million copies, Bild is Europe’s largest newspaper, but like most publications it has seen a sharp decline in its print readership. In 2011, daily printing revenue averaged 2.8 million, according to the newspaper’s website, down from 4 million in 1965.

With its colorful graphics and the focus on scandal, celebrities and sport, Bild – which means “Bild” – is Germany’s populist daily newspaper. The readership distorts masculine. Until 2012, Bild published a photo of a topless woman on the front page every day and continues to publish photos of half-naked “Bild Girls” online.

Unlike Britain’s right-wing tabloids, Image is relatively impartial yet empathetic, with an aggressive tabloid style despite being printed on a broadsheet format. Because of the reach of Bild, it is often the publication that leaders use to communicate with voters and offer exclusive interviews or juicy leaks.

Mr. Reichelt, 40, a former war correspondent who became editor-in-chief of Bild in 2017, also frequently wrote opinion pieces. He recently railed against the federal government’s mismanagement of the pandemic crisis. Earlier this month, he complained that the authorities fined joggers for not wearing masks, while the federal and state governments botched the introduction of vaccines.

Axel Springer, the parent company of Bild, is one of the best-known media companies in Europe. Springer also owns Welt, a German daily newspaper; the Business Insider online news site; and Politico Europe. The private equity company KKR owns 36 percent of Springer’s shares and has three seats on the company’s nine-member supervisory board. Friede Springer, widow of the founder Axel Springer, remains the main shareholder and board member.

Springer said in a statement on Saturday that the investigation involving Mr. Reichelt would include “an assessment of the credibility and integrity of all parties involved”.

The publisher added: “Prejudices based on rumors are not acceptable for the corporate culture of Axel Springer.”

Categories
Politics

Lincoln Venture backers take into account chopping off donations in wake of misconduct allegations

Lincoln Project backers consider cutting off donations in wake of misconduct allegations

John Weaver is shown on a campaign bus in Bow, NH, in this January 20, 2016 file photo. The Lincoln Project launched in November 2019 as a super PAC that allowed its executives to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money.

Charles Krupa | AP

The Lincoln Project, a group of conservative activists that made a splash with viral ads targeting former President Trump, is at risk of losing financial support after one of its founders is accused of sexual misconduct.

Several wealthy donors are considering cutting off their support for the organization, according to people close to these financiers. They pay particular attention to the results of an outside investigation into whether other leaders were aware of the alleged harassment of several men by co-founder John Weaver, these people added.

Some of those close to the donors declined to be named because they were concerned about retaliation from the leaders of the Lincoln Project and their allies.

Despite numerous reports to the contrary, the Lincoln Project – its original members include Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign leader Steve Schmidt, the author and former advisor to the George HW Bush campaign, Rick Wilson, and conservative attorney George Conway – denied being aware of any misconduct allegations against Weaver until recently. The group condemned Weaver’s conduct on January 31st.

Weaver told the New York Times in January that he was a withdrawn gay man and that he was “really sorry for these men and everyone and for abandoning so many people.”

The Lincoln Project said Thursday that it is “retaining a top notch outside professional to review Mr. Weaver’s tenure with the organization and establish both accountability and best practices for the Lincoln Project”.

The FBI is also investigating the allegations against Weaver, according to independent journalist Yashar Ali, who cited sources who claimed they were being contacted by agents.

The Lincoln Project did not respond to subsequent CNBC requests for comment.

The group will continue to need financial assistance as it continues its stated mission of targeting pro-Trump politicians and the former president. The group has reportedly tried to start a media company. There is already a live online show called “LPTV”. A United Talent Agency representative, who reportedly held talks to increase the group’s media presence, did not respond to a request for comment.

The PAC raised over $ 87 million, much of it from several Democratic megadonors. Those in charge of the organization were so confident that some organizers told CNBC in May they wanted to reach out to billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg for a donation. Records show that Bloomberg didn’t help.

Much of the Lincoln Project’s spending went towards paying vendors owned by its executives. The group was founded in December 2019.

Donor Jen Pritzker, a member of the wealthy and influential Pritzker family, suggested that given the allegations against Weaver, she could stop giving money to the group. Pritzker contributed to the joint fundraising committee of President Joe Biden and other democratic groups.

“I believed in the Lincoln Project’s mission and supported its efforts to prevent Donald Trump from being re-elected,” Pritzker told CNBC in a statement. “As a donor, I trusted that my gift would be used to further support the organization’s goals. Sexual misconduct cannot be tolerated by any organization. Anyone can be a victim, and these allegations should be handled in accordance with human rights law.”

A spokeswoman for Pritzkers Tawani Enterprises stated that she had not yet made a decision as to whether she would make a contribution in the future.

Pritzker donated $ 100,000 to the Lincoln Project in October, Federal Election Commission records show. Another family member, John Pritzker, also gave the group $ 100,000. He did not return a request for comment.

When asked by CNBC whether Jeffrey Katzenberg would stop giving the Lincoln Project, an advisor to the Hollywood power player didn’t rule it out. “Not our focus,” said the consultant in an email. Katzenberg gave the PAC $ 100,000 in August. Katzenbeg was also a major Biden bundler.

Meanwhile, CNBC has learned that two previous Lincoln project vendors will no longer work with the group.

Aaron, Thomas & Associates, who describes himself as a specialist in political direct mail, received over $ 90,000 from the group in September, records show. The company’s work with the group stopped before the Weaver allegations surfaced, but the company has decided not to take any more business from the Lincoln project.

“Absolutely not,” replied founder Fred Thomas when asked by CNBC if the Lincoln project would work again. “When we cited this work, we weren’t even aware of what it was or who it was for. We broke it up with someone else anyway,” he added, noting that his company “doesn’t want negative results from Mail. “

Anedot, a campaign donation processor used in the Lincoln Project’s final election cycle, is closing its account with the group, according to a company official who refused to be named.

“Anedot was recently made aware of certain incidents that resulted in our account team notifying the account owner that the account will be closed,” the representative said.

The non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics says Anedot received fees of over $ 3 million in the 2020 cycle. Anedot’s representative said he did not give any reasons for closing accounts.

In building its media business through the Lincoln Project, CNBC turned to Zeldavision, a live streaming production company that received over $ 1 million from the group. The company promotes a partnership with the PAC. According to the Zeldavision website, it also appears to be helping to produce the Lincoln Project’s live content.

The company did not answer whether it would stand by the PAC in the future.

Tara Setmayer, who distinguishes herself as a senior advisor on her Twitter page and has hosted an LPTV show, said she was “dismayed and disappointed” by the recent event surrounding the Lincoln project.

“It cannot be tolerated. More to say,” added Setmayer.