The music industry has a history of sex and drugs, but that doesn’t mean that they were prepared for the lawsuit that just landed on their desks claiming that “pervasive drug use” and sexual activity led to a hostile working environment.
The security guard who has filed the lawsuit claims that management in the Universal Music offices in Santa Monica “turned a blind eye” to a number of high profile music celebrities coming into the building brandishing drugs, who then proceeded to offer her a “hit” and then make use of the illicit substances.
The high profile musicians and celebrities are alleged to include Macy Gray, Jimmy Iovine of Interscope/Geffen, and guests of Jamie Foxx. Supposedly you could smell the marijuana seeping from various offices and there was even a special “lounge” where there was a culture of “anything goes” and “Federal and state laws concerning illegal drug use did not apply”.
On one occasion allegedly involving Adam Levine of Maroon 5, when the plaintiff complained of the smell of maijuana she was told
“It’s Adam Levine. You know, from Maroon 5. He can do whatever he wants. If he wants to come to the lobby and do a line of cocaine on the floor, it’s OK.”
The environment was also allegedly “sexually charged” where:
“UMPG employees were complaining about finding bras hanging in the studio and people being found passed out in the showers after partying and drug use.”
There was also an alleged incident where the plaintiff found:
“Condoms plastered in the men’s bathroom while on patrol…[and]UMPG employees engaged in intimate touching and grinding, involving buttocks and genitalia.”
It appears rock’n’roll isn’t dead yet then.
You can read the full claim at The Hollywood Reporter [PDF]
