Antonio “L.A.” Reid, a highly successful and Grammy-winning music executive, is facing a lawsuit filed by a former Arista Records executive, Drew Dixon. In the lawsuit, Dixon accuses Reid of sexually assaulting her on two occasions and retaliating against her after she rejected further advances. According to Dixon, Reid obstructed her career by punishing the artists she had already signed or by blocking the artists she attempted to sign, including Kanye West and John Legend.
This case follows Dixon’s previous accusations in 2017, where she claimed that Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, raped her and that Reid harassed her, ultimately forcing her out of the music industry. The same year, Reid exited from his position at Sony’s Epic Records after being accused of sexual misconduct by an assistant. Dixon, who contributed to hit songs from the likes of West, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin, claims that her career was thwarted due to retaliation and the ongoing health issues she suffers as a result of the assaults.
The first assault occurred in 2001 on a private jet with Reid on the way to a company-wide retreat in Puerto Rico. Dixon alleges that Reid began playing with her hair, kissing her, and digitally penetrated her without her consent. When she started to avoid Reid following the incident, she claims that he retaliated by embarrassing her in front of others and being unprofessional. The second assault allegedly occurred in Reid’s car, where he again digitally penetrated Dixon without her consent.
Dixon claims she only told her life coach about the assaults because she feared that coming forward would be career-ending. According to the lawsuit, Dixon suffered ongoing harassment in the form of demands from Reid for her to wear skirts and high heels, as well as daily invitations to meet in his hotel room. Davis, Dixon’s lawyer, alleges that Reid directly responded to Dixon’s rejection of his sexual advances by punishing the artists she had signed and blocking the artists she attempted to sign.
Dixon alleges that her promotional and recording budgets were slashed, and her song demos and artist auditions were consistently rejected. She claims that she was forced out of the industry by Reid and suffers from depression as a result of the assaults and ongoing retaliation.
The lawsuit alleges sexual battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. It was brought under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which revived the window to bring sexual misconduct claims for one year regardless of the statute of limitations.
In a statement, Dixon said, “L.A. Reid is a known predator, who uses his singular professional power to force himself on his victims. In my case, his persistent campaign of sexual harassment and assault forced me to abandon the work I loved when I was at the top of my game in the music business, having worked my way up from internships and a job as a receptionist.”
This lawsuit sheds light on the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and assault in the music industry, and the damaging effects it can have on the careers and mental health of the victims. It also highlights the importance of speaking out against such behavior and seeking justice for those who have been affected.