Record exec L.A. Reid settles sexual assault lawsuit

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Music executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid has reached a settlement in a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a former employee, Drew Dixon, preventing the case from going to trial. The trial had been scheduled to start on Monday.

In 2023, Dixon sued Reid, claiming he sexually harassed, assaulted, and retaliated against her while she worked for him as an A&R representative at Arista Records, citing the New York Adult Survivors Act.

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Lauren Hersh, director of World Without Exploitation, explains that this situation sends a harmful message to survivors, suggesting that despite the progress of the MeToo movement, their experiences still aren’t fully believed or taken seriously.

In a lawsuit, Dixon accused Reid of sexual assault, claiming he digitally penetrated her without consent on a private plane in 2001 and forcibly groped and kissed her months afterward. She also alleges that Reid retaliated after she rejected his advances by publicly scolding her after she brought a then-unknown Kanye West to the label for an audition.

In court documents, Reid strongly denied the accusations. However, these claims, along with previous harassment allegations that led to his departure from Epic Records in 2017, damaged his standing in the music industry.

Imran H. Ansari, Reid’s lawyer, stated that Reid and Dixon have reached a friendly agreement to resolve their issue, and Reid is not admitting any wrongdoing. The details of the agreement haven’t been made public.

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Drew Dixon is taking legal action against L.A. Reid, his former boss at Arista Records, alleging sexual assault and harassment that occurred in the early 2000s.

Dixon shared with The Times that they hope their work supporting the Adult Survivors Act contributes to a more secure environment within the music industry. They expressed hope that today brings a positive moment for survivors, offering a glimmer of hope. Having always found solace and happiness in music, even from a young age, Dixon has a talent for discovering new and unique artists. Despite focusing on advocating for survivors of sexual assault recently, they remain dedicated to establishing their own career in the music industry.

The trial was expected to include testimony from well-known people, including John Legend, whom Dixon had previously attempted to sign to his record label. Dixon had also publicly accused Russell Simmons, a prominent figure at Def Jam Recordings, of sexual assault in a 2017 New York Times article and in the 2020 documentary “On The Record.”

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2026-01-13 02:31