Just days before music's biggest night, Deborah Dugan claims on a TV interview that the Recording Academy officials have been fixing the Grammy Awards nominations.
- Jan 24, 2020
AceShowbiz - Suspended Recording Academy chief executive and president Deborah Dugan has alleged she has evidence past Grammy nominations have been corrupted.
Dugan, the first female head of the organisation that runs the Grammy awards, was suspended last week after a misconduct allegation, but filed a complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Tuesday - just five days before Sunday's 2020 awards ceremony.
The entertainment executive, who has alleged the Academy's legal counsel Joel Katz sexually harassed her and revealed her predecessor Neil Portnow had been accused of rape, has claimed in an interview on "Good Morning America" on Thursday, January 23, 2020 that nominations, including for 2019's Song of the Year were fixed to ensure an artist who sat on the selection committee got the nod.
Flanked by her lawyer Douglas Wigdor, Dugan refused to name the artist, but said, "It's not just that one room (deciding the Song of the Year nods). I have evidence that in another room...because there were complaints made in the jazz category."
She also detailed her allegations against Katz, which he strongly denies, saying, "At the very onset, in fact under the guise of a work dinner I was propositioned by the general counsel... entertainment lawyer of enormous, enormous power in the industry starting with calling me 'babe' and saying how attractive I was and pretty I was."
"The evening went on to kiss, trying to kiss me and all the way through I felt like I was being tested in how much would I acquiesce? I realised that was a power-setting move just on the onset as I was coming onto the committee."
Wigdor also spoke on behalf of his client, saying that Recording Academy executives are now in "panic mode" as they hit back by detailing a complaint that Dugan was abusive and bullying, and created a toxic work environment.
Dugan also defended her decision not to immediately request action be taken on her allegations, saying she had wanted to promote "change from within" the organisation.
Portnow has denied he raped an unnamed "foreign recording artist" in a statement on Wednesday, saying he had been "exonerated" after an investigation.
