A psychotherapist claims that record executive Charlie Walk abused his power as her boss during the year she worked for him.
In an open letter on a website for the women's wellness studio and social club Life Lab, Tristan Coopersmith alleges sexual harassment against Charlie Walk, claiming he "promised (her) the world" professionally and introduced her to moguls including Donnie Lenner, Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons.
"But you also made me feel sick to my stomach almost everyday. For a year I shuddered at the idea of being called into your office, where you would stealthily close the door and make lewd comments about my body and share your fantasies of having sex with me. I was 27. No previous experience had taught me what to do in such a situation. So I laughed it off, gently reminded you that you were married with children, and tried to change the subject," Coopersmith wrote.
"But you were relentless. You would instant message me throughout the day making sexual remarks. Truly vulgar words and ideas. Pervasively. You invited me to dinners that in hindsight I had no business being at, but you did it so that you could put your hand on my thigh under the table, every time inching it closer and closer to my sacred place. You did it so you could lean over and whisper disgusting things into my ear and I had to smile so that no one suspected anything."
Coopersmith also claims that Walk pushed her into his bed while his wife was next door.
"You being drunk and me being 6 inches taller was my saving grace," she wrote.
Walk denied the allegations.
"It is very upsetting to learn of this untrue allegation made by someone who worked with me 15 years ago, without incident," he told Deadline. "There has never been a single HR claim against me at any time during my 25+ year career, spanning three major companies. I have consistently been a supporter of the women's movement and this is the first time I have ever heard of this or any other allegation _ and it is false."
Walk, the president of Republic Records, currently serves as a judge on Fox's singing competition show "The Four."
"While it appears this blog post relates to the period prior to Mr. Walk's appointment to his position at Republic Records, we take the allegations very seriously and intend to conduct a full and complete review of this matter," Universal Music Group said in a statement to the Daily News.
In her letter, Coopersmith said she doesn't "wish ill" on Walk, but hopes that he has learned a lesson.
"The truth is, Charlie Walk, there will always be scumbags like you. I know this because you're raising sons who will follow in your own footsteps," she wrote.
"But here's the thing, I'm raising a son too. And I'm raising him to respect himself so that he can respect others, including women. I'm raising him to stand up to a-holes like you in honor of women. I'm raising him to know that healthy relationships don't involve power. I'm raising him to be what you weren't raised to be, a decent human being."
Fox said in a statement to The News that the network is looking into Coopersmith's claims.
"We have only recently learned of these past allegations regarding Mr. Walk," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We are currently reviewing this matter and are committed to fostering a safe environment on all of our shows."
