UPDATED 00:57 EDT / OCTOBER 13 2017

APPS

Amazon Studios boss Roy Price suspended after sexual harassment claims

Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios, has been put on a leave of absence following allegations that he sexually harassed a producer and also turned a blind eye to an actress’ claim that she had been sexually assaulted by producer Harvey Weinstein.

“Roy Price is on leave of absence effective immediately,” Amazon.com Inc. said in a statement. “We are reviewing our options for the projects we have with The Weinstein Co.”

The producer, Isa Hackett, is the daughter of famed science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. She served as an executive producer on the Amazon hit series, “The Man in the High Castle.” In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she claimed that Price had sexually harassed her in 2015.

The incident, which happened after an Amazon staff party, was reported to Amazon executives and an investigation ensued. Hackett said she was never told anything regarding the outcome of the investigation.

“I feel inspired by the other women who have been far braver than I am, who have come forward,” Hackett told The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she felt encouraged to speak out following reports in various media about media mogul Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct and allegations of rape. “I hope we all continue to inspire each other and ultimately create change.”

On Thursday, actress Rose McGowan, also said she had told Amazon executives about how Weinstein had sexually assaulted her. In tweets directed at Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, she criticized the company for working with the Weinstein Co. In a tweet to Price on Thursday, she wrote, “Remember when I told you not to do a deal with him and why?”

In another tweet to Bezos, she wrote, “I told the head of your studio that HW raped me. Over & over I said it. He said it hadn’t been proven. I said I was the proof.” She then told Bezos that she loved working with Amazon, but added, “There is rot in Hollywood.”

Image: Matthew Dillon via Flickr

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