DAILY BEAST: AMATO PUSHED OUT OVER HARASSMENT CHARGES

Citing “sources with direct knowledge,” The Daily Beast has published a new story on ousted Billboard/Hollywood Reporter CEO John Amato that says he was pushed out after an internal investigation “raised concerns about evidence of sexual harassment and other wrongdoing.”

Reporter Maxwell Tani, who broke the scandal in May with a Daily Beast article reporting claims that Amato had quashed stories about industry sexual harassment—specifically ones regarding Amato’s friend Charlie Walk—adds in his latest story that the internal investigation grew in scope to address other alleged improprieties by Amato.

Investigators, writes Tani, were told of several instances of “sexual overtures” by Amato toward female staffers; public recounting of his sexual adventures with celebrities and—despite the Bible CEO’s avowed pro-LGBTQ stance—office comments that were seen as insensitive to gay staff members. The Beast reports that at least two sources say those who stepped forward about harassment were soon either fired or threatened with firing.

The probe is also “examining whether the company adequately addressed complaints by staff of inappropriate behavior by top company officials,” Tani writes.

The new story notes that complaints have also been heard against EVP Partnerships Julian Holguin, whose relentless talk about what he wanted to do to strippers during a night out prompted a disgusted letter to HR from a non-employee witness.

Furthermore, Tani reports, a separate query is underway regarding alleged “financial wrongdoing” connected to the company’s acquisition of SpinMedia in 2016.

Neither Amato nor parent company Valence Media would comment for the story, which you’ll find here.