L.A. Reid Leaves Sony After Accusations Of Harassment On A “Daily Basis”

Posted On : May 15, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Honoree Antonio 'LA' Reid, singer Usher and producer Babyface attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring L.A. Reid held at The Beverly Hilton on February 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Antonio ‘LA’ Reid, singer Usher and producer Babyface. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

What’s The ‘Deele’ L.A.?

L.A. Reid has been in the music game for decades. He has been instrumental in launching many celebrities careers. He’s worked with many big name stars now including Janet Jackson,  Kanye West, Outkast, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and our beloved Whitney Houston.

He’s been in the music game long enough to reach record heights on his accomplishments as a producer. So when allegations were raised…we were surprised, but not convinced.

Is the power of the ‘poody’ that strong to where, it can make a 60 year old man put himself into a position to lose millions?

LA Reid
L.A. Reid

A Hard Stop!

L.A. Reid, 60, was the head of Sony Music Entertainment’s Epic Records label who earned his way to the top from his humble beginnings as a drummer for the popular 80’s group The Deele. Once the group dissolved he changed his angle and entered into the business side of the entertainment industry.  He launched LaFace Records with Babyface, and  also held the position of CEO of Island Def Jam Group, in 2004, where he remained until 2011. From there he transitioned over at Epic Records.

On Saturday a short statement was released from Epic Records:

“L.A. Reid will be leaving the company,” through a company announcement, Epic Records had dissolved their relationship with one of the industries leaders.

According to Billboard, L.A. had been accused of sexual harassment towards a female assistant, an employee while on the job. The assistant had filed a complaint of ‘unlawful harassment’, as mentioned on the site.

The unidentified woman stated through an attorney who sent a letter to the company back in March outlining the details of the alleged harassment that she said she endured on a constant daily basis. .

In a letter to Sony, the claimant’s attorney detailed alleged harassment his client had faced on a daily basis, which included alleged inappropriate remarks about her appearance and clothing and alleged propositions that caused her embarrassment and distress, making it impossible for her to continue working at the label. The letter — the contents of which were relayed to Billboard — threatened litigation if a settlement wasn’t reached. It wasn’t clear if Sony’s investigation had confirmed any of the letter’s allegations, and one person in Reid’s camp said the letter contained inaccuracies.

We hope this works out for L.A. Reid.

About I Love Old School Music

We salute the incredible people and beautiful memories of that "old school". We’re not saying that every artist and every facet of the soul era was perfect, but the artists’ contributions to soul music and the old school memories of that particular time are PRICELESS.