A musician has filed a lawsuit against Neil Portnow, the former chief executive of the Recording Academy, accusing him of drugging and raping her in a New York hotel room in 2018. The lawsuit also claims that the Recording Academy was negligent in investigating the musician’s complaint. The suit, which was filed in New York State Supreme Court, describes the musician as an instrumentalist from outside the United States who previously performed at Carnegie Hall. The accusations against Portnow come in the wake of a turbulent period for the Grammys, which saw Portnow facing criticism for saying that women in music needed to “step up” if they wanted greater recognition.
Background of the Lawsuit
Accusations against Neil Portnow
The lawsuit filed against Neil Portnow, former chief executive of the Recording Academy, alleges that he drugged and raped a musician and member of the academy in 2018. The woman, who is not named in the lawsuit, claims that Portnow sexually assaulted her in a New York hotel room.
Allegation of drugging and rape
The lawsuit accuses Portnow of sexual battery and describes an incident where the plaintiff felt woozy and lost control of her body after drinking a glass of wine that Portnow had given her. She alleges that she woke up multiple times throughout the night to find him sexually assaulting her. The suit claims that Portnow ignored her attempts to contact him after the incident.
Description of the Plaintiff
According to the court papers, the plaintiff is described as an instrumentalist from outside the United States who had previously performed at Carnegie Hall. Her identity is redacted in the lawsuit to protect her privacy.
The Lawsuit
Accusations against Neil Portnow
The lawsuit accuses Neil Portnow of sexual battery and alleges that he drugged and raped the plaintiff in a New York hotel room in 2018. The plaintiff claims that Portnow ignored her attempts to contact him after the incident.
Accusation of negligence by the Recording Academy
The lawsuit also accuses the Recording Academy, the nonprofit group behind the Grammys, of negligence in investigating the plaintiff’s complaint. The plaintiff alleges that the academy failed to properly monitor Portnow as its employee, investigate her accusation, and take appropriate action against him.
Timeline of Events
January 2018: Meeting between plaintiff and Neil Portnow
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff met Neil Portnow at a Recording Academy event in January 2018. Portnow invited her to the Grammys ceremony and later told her that he would return to New York in the spring. The plaintiff asked to interview him for a publication she had started.
June 2018: Alleged incident at the Kitano Hotel
In June 2018, when Portnow returned to New York, he told the plaintiff to meet him at the Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue. The lawsuit alleges that Portnow greeted her in the lobby, brought her to his room, gave her Grammy memorabilia, and offered her a glass of wine. The plaintiff claims she felt woozy and began to lose control of her body after drinking the wine. She alleges that Portnow sexually assaulted her while she was still under the influence.
November 2018: Email from Neil Portnow to the plaintiff
The lawsuit includes an email from a lawyer for Neil Portnow, sent in November 2018, which relays a personal message from Portnow to the plaintiff. The message from Portnow expresses respect for the plaintiff and cites a saying related to peace. The email is included as evidence in the lawsuit.
2020: Public disclosure of accusation by Deborah Dugan
The woman’s accusation against Neil Portnow was first made public in 2020 when Deborah Dugan, Portnow’s successor as chief executive of the Recording Academy, mentioned it while challenging her dismissal from the organization. Dugan accused the academy of retaliation and included mention of the unnamed foreign recording artist who had accused Portnow of rape in a discrimination complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Response from Neil Portnow
Denial of allegations
A representative of Neil Portnow released a statement denying the allegations made in the lawsuit. The representative claimed that the accusations were false and the product of the plaintiff’s imagination. They suggested that the accusations were motivated by Portnow’s refusal to comply with the plaintiff’s “outrageous demands for money and assistance in obtaining a residence visa.”
Accusations of outrageous demands
Neil Portnow’s representative also accused the plaintiff of making outrageous and untrue allegations, suggesting that the accusations were a result of her dissatisfaction with Portnow’s refusal to comply with her demands.
Response from the Recording Academy
Denial of merit of the claims
The Recording Academy released a statement denying the merit of the claims made in the lawsuit. They described the claims as being without merit and expressed their intention to vigorously defend the academy in the lawsuit.
Intent to vigorously defend the academy
The Recording Academy stated their intention to vigorously defend themselves against the allegations made in the lawsuit. They emphasized their belief that the claims made by the plaintiff are unfounded.
Failure of Prosecution
Police report filed by plaintiff
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff filed a police report naming Neil Portnow as the perpetrator of the alleged rape. However, the lawsuit states that the district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case, providing no further information on the decision.
District attorney’s office declining to prosecute
The district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case against Neil Portnow, according to the plaintiff’s lawyers. However, no further details were provided regarding the decision.
Background on Neil Portnow’s Controversial Remarks
Criticism of Portnow’s ‘step up’ comments
During his tenure as chief executive of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow made controversial remarks suggesting that women in music should “step up” to get greater recognition in the industry. His comments were widely criticized and led to calls for his resignation.
Calls for resignation
Portnow faced widespread calls for his resignation after making the “step up” comments, as many viewed them as dismissive of the challenges faced by women in the music industry. Prominent women in the music industry publicly called for him to step down.
Retaliation against Deborah Dugan
Deborah Dugan, who succeeded Portnow as chief executive of the Recording Academy, was abruptly terminated from her position after accusing the organization of various abuses, including a cover-up related to the accusation made against Portnow. Dugan claimed that her termination was retaliatory.
Claims of Negligence by the Recording Academy
Failure to monitor Portnow
The lawsuit accuses the Recording Academy of failing to properly monitor Neil Portnow as its employee, suggesting that they did not adequately oversee his behavior and actions.
Failure to properly investigate the accusation
The plaintiff’s lawsuit alleges that the Recording Academy failed to properly investigate her accusation against Portnow. She claims that the organization did not take her complaint seriously or conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Failure to take appropriate action
The lawsuit further asserts that the Recording Academy failed to take appropriate action against Neil Portnow after the accusation was made. The plaintiff claims that the organization did not hold Portnow accountable for his alleged actions.
Financial Costs and Settlements
Grammys’ payments to Deborah Dugan
The Recording Academy disclosed in its federal tax return that it paid Deborah Dugan a total of $5.75 million as a legal settlement and severance in its 2021 fiscal year. This financial cost is related to the conflict between Dugan and the academy following her termination.
Neil Portnow’s bonus after leaving the academy
Following his departure from the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow received a bonus of $800,000, according to the academy’s most recent disclosure.
Conclusion
Ongoing lawsuit and allegations against Neil Portnow
The lawsuit against Neil Portnow and the allegations made by the plaintiff continue to be unresolved legal matters. The case highlights the serious accusations of sexual assault and the importance of proper investigation and accountability.
Implications for the Recording Academy and the music industry
The lawsuit and allegations have significant implications for the Recording Academy and the wider music industry. They raise questions about the culture and practices within the industry and the need for organizations to ensure the safety and well-being of their members. The outcome of the lawsuit may impact how the Recording Academy addresses issues of misconduct in the future.
