Music mogul Antonio “LA” Reid has been sued for sexual assault and harassment by a former colleague.
According to The New York Times and Rolling Stone, Drew Dixon, who worked for Reid during her employment at Arista Records, claimed in her lawsuit that she was assaulted by Reid twice in 2001.
Dixon claims she was attacked by Reid on a private plane and in the back seat of his private car.
Dixon, who rose to vice president of A&R during her tenure at Arista and has previously accused Reid of misconduct, claims Reid hindered her career and prevented her from signing and promoting artists such as John Legend when she rebuffed him in other cases.
She left the company in 2002 and returned to the music industry, but her career did not reach the same path as it originally did, according to the New York Times.
Music mogul Antonio “LA” Reid was accused of sexual assault and harassment by a former colleague; pictured 2012
Dixon claims the problems began shortly after Reid joined Arista as CEO and president in 2000. “Almost immediately … Mr. Reid began sexualizing and harassing Ms. Dixon,” the lawsuit says.
Dixon, who previously accused Russell Simmons of rape, which he denied, claims the first attack occurred on a plane en route to Puerto Rico for the company’s retreat.
She was supposed to fly on a private plane with Reid and other senior executives, but upon arrival discovered that it was just her and Reid.
Reid allegedly immediately began flirting with her, the lawsuit says.
While the two waited for the other travelers, Reid allegedly asked Dixon to sit next to him to go over the work. However, he allegedly began “playing with her hair, kissing her and digitally penetrating her.”[ing] her vulva without her consent.’
Dixon claimed she arranged for her assistant to be with her for the rest of the trip to prevent Reid’s sexual advances.
After the trip, Dixon claimed she tried to “find the dangerous balance between maintaining a working relationship and succumbing to Mr. Reid’s sexual advances.”
This included not answering his late-night calls, refusing suggestions to hold meetings in hotel rooms, and wearing unflattering clothing that Reid disliked.
Reid allegedly then became unhappy with Dixon and retaliated by behaving unprofessionally and embarrassing her in front of other employees.
Dixon also claims that Reid had no interest in working with artists she brought into the company – musicians like Kanye West and John Legend.
According to The New York Times and Rolling Stone, Drew Dixon, who worked for Reid during her employment at Arista Records, claimed in her lawsuit that she was assaulted by Reid twice in 2001
The second alleged assault is said to have occurred in Reid’s personal car.
Reid offered to give Dixon a ride in his vehicle after a work event, and Dixon agreed since Reid’s driver would also be in the vehicle.
“Shortly after the trip began,” the lawsuit says, “Mr stared straight ahead.
“When Mr Reid complained and was visibly upset by her lack of compliance, Ms Dixon froze. Mr Reid digitally penetrated Ms Dixon’s vulva again without her consent.
Dixon claims her career continued to be influenced by Reid even after the alleged assault, with Reid responding “directly” to the rejection by interfering in her work in various ways.
With no hope of her future in the company and the music industry as a whole, Dixon left Arista in 2002 and began studying at Harvard Business School.
Reid has had a successful career in the music industry and has helped launch the careers of some of the biggest stars, including Pink, Usher and Mariah Carey (Reid pictured with Carey in 2015).
Reid pictured at Carey’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2015
Dixon claims she never reached the same career heights again after that, claiming Reid was still interfering in her career in 2017.
“When you talk about someone’s career being under siege, there’s this dance that happens: She’s trying to make sure that she’s not completely alienating them, but she doesn’t want to succumb to the assault,” says Kenya K. Davis, who is as one of Dixon’s lawyers is acting, said the Times. “He was relentless. And by defying him, she paid the price.’
Dixon previously claimed she was sexually harassed by Reid. Speaking to The New York Times in 2017, she claimed Reid began sexualizing her and making unwelcome advances that often came with strings attached.
The former executive became “dismissive when denying his unwanted advances,” which reportedly included invitations to late-night chats at his hotel, she claimed.
Reid has had a successful music career (pictured talking to Taylor Swift at the 2013 American Music Awards)
Reid pictured with one of the artists he signed, R&B superstar Usher (pictured in 2022)
“It was a quid pro quo: ‘I have power, you want access, sleep with me – or I’ll be really mean to you the next day.’ And there will be consequences,” she told the Times.
In a statement to The New York Times at the time, Mr. Reid did not address the specific allegations but apologized if his words were “misinterpreted.”
“I am proud of my track record of promoting, supporting and empowering women in every company I have ever led. However, I apologize unreservedly if I have ever said anything that could be misinterpreted.”
Reid has had a successful career in the music industry and has helped launch the careers of some of the biggest stars, including Pink, Usher and Mariah Carey.
Dixon’s lawsuit was able to be filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual violence to sue over attacks that occurred decades ago. Dixon supported the bill and the window closes on November 24th.
The Times was unable to speak to Reid for comment on the lawsuit.