{"id":16224,"date":"2020-01-24T17:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-25T01:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.creativespikedigital.com\/lftc\/?p=16224"},"modified":"2024-11-01T14:01:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T21:01:27","slug":"the-grammys-vs-deborah-dugan-a-guide-to-the-dueling-messy-accusations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.creativespikedigital.com\/lftc\/news\/entertainment\/the-grammys-vs-deborah-dugan-a-guide-to-the-dueling-messy-accusations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Grammys vs. Deborah Dugan: A guide to the dueling, messy accusations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the week leading up to the Grammy Awards, it\u2019s not the nominated artists<\/a> or stacked lineup of performers<\/a> who have taken center stage \u2014 but rather the Recording Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, which puts on the Grammys, is embroiled in a bitter battle with its recently ousted president and chief executive, Deborah Dugan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damning allegations of sexism, voter corruption, workplace misconduct, sexual assault and more have been thrown in the heated and complicated exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of Sunday\u2019s ceremony, which airs at 5 p.m. Pacific on CBS, here\u2019s a breakdown of who said what and when, from Dugan\u2019s historic appointment to her sweeping takedown<\/a> of the organization that appointed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aug. 1, 2019: Dugan takes control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dugan became the Recording Academy\u2019s first-ever female president<\/a> and chief executive \u2014 perceived as a part of a much-needed rebrand after her predecessor, Neil Portnow, infamously suggested at the 2018 Grammys that women needed to \u201cstep up\u201d<\/a> if they wanted equal recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ushered in as a beacon of change, the former chief executive at AIDS nonprofit (RED) told the Los Angeles Times that she intended to build on Portnow\u2019s attempts at diversification and champion underrepresented voices within the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll the issues that Neil has addressed have led us to a larger conversation, and that is a conversation, of course, that we need to have about women and diversity in music,\u201d she said shortly after her appointment. \u201cWhere we take it and how we use this organization to effect positive change, that\u2019s one of the questions I\u2019m most excited to answer in this job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan. 16: Academy pulls Dugan amid misconduct allegations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a move that sent shock-waves through the music industry, the academy confirmed that Dugan had been relieved of her duties and placed on \u201cadministrative leave\u201d<\/a> just 10 days before the 2020 Grammys ceremony. The reason? Someone filed a complaint accusing her of misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the organization initially withheld specific details about the nature of the claim, it was said to be leveled in December by \u201ca senior female member of the Recording Academy team,\u201d and a New York Times report categorized it vaguely as \u201cbullying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn light of concerns raised to the Recording Academy Board of Trustees, including a formal allegation of misconduct by a senior female member of the Recording Academy team, the Board has placed Recording Academy President and CEO Deborah Dugan on administrative leave, effective immediately,\u201d read a statement from the academy provided to the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Board has also retained two independent third-party investigators to conduct independent investigations of the allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan. 17: Complaints and threats abound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the New York Times, Dugan filed a complaint<\/a> with the academy\u2019s human resources department a few weeks before her exit that raised concerns about the organization\u2019s practices, which caused her to worry \u201csomething was seriously amiss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the issues reportedly laid out in Dugan\u2019s message were voting irregularities, financial mismanagement and \u201cexorbitant and unnecessary\u201d legal bills, as well as conflicts of interest involving members of the academy\u2019s board, executive committee and outside lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After her departure, Dugan issued a threat to the academy via her attorney, quoting Portnow\u2019s controversial 2018 Grammys speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat has been reported is not nearly the story that needs to be told,\u201d said crisis litigator Bryan Freedman in the statement. \u201cWhen our ability to speak is not restrained by a 28-page contract and legal threats, we will expose what happens when you \u2018step up\u2019 at the Recording Academy, a public nonprofit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several in the entertainment industry leapt to Dugan\u2019s defense after the scuffle, including former Fox News and \u201cToday\u201d anchor Megyn Kelly and ex-“America\u2019s Got Talent\u201d judge Gabrielle Union \u2014 both of whom have dealt with highly publicized terminations of their own<\/a>. All three women hired the same lawyer, Freedman, to protect them during their transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoulda sworn this is the same board that told women to \u2018step up,\u2019\u201d Union tweeted. \u201cClearly what they really meant was stand down, turn a blind eye to problems, or be fired. #DeborahDugan truly stepped up & tried to make necessary changes & was shown the door. Been there, done that, got fired too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coulda sworn this is the same board that told women to “step up” Clearly what they really meant was stand down, turn a blind eye to problems, or be fired. #DeborahDugan<\/a> truly stepped up & tried to make necessary changes & was shown the door. Been there, done that, got fired too. https:\/\/t.co\/xwm3qUln3x<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 18, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>