Grammy-winning music executive LA Reid has settled a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit brought by a former employee, with the resolution coming on the very day the civil trial was scheduled to begin in New York.
Allegations of Assault and Career Sabotage
The lawsuit was filed by Drew Dixon, a former employee at Arista Records, where Reid served as chief executive. Dixon alleged that Reid, whose real name is Antonio Reid, sexually assaulted her on two occasions in 2001. She claimed the incidents involved unwanted groping, kissing, and digital penetration without her consent.
Dixon further asserted that the harassment began soon after Reid joined Arista in 2000. When she rejected his advances, she says her once-promising career was deliberately thwarted. She alleged her budgets were slashed and her proposed artist signings were rejected. Reid has consistently denied all allegations.
"His persistent campaign of sexual harassment and assault forced me to abandon the work I loved when I was at the top of my game in the music business," Dixon said in a 2023 statement provided by her lawyers. She left Arista in 2002 to attend Harvard Business School.
Legal Context and Broader Industry Claims
The case was brought under New York State’s Adult Survivors Act, a 2023 law that opened a one-year window for adults to sue over alleged sexual abuse that occurred outside the standard statute of limitations.
This is not the first time Reid has faced workplace harassment claims. In 2017, he stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of Epic Records following a separate harassment claim from a female assistant, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Dixon, now a board member at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, has previously been involved in other high-profile allegations within the music industry. She was one of three women who accused Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons of rape, featuring in the 2020 documentary On the Record. Simmons has denied all allegations from over twenty accusers.
Confidential Settlement and Final Statements
Specific details of the settlement between Reid and Dixon have not been disclosed to the public. Both parties, however, released statements confirming the resolution.
Dixon expressed hope that her case would inspire change, stating: "I hope my work as an advocate for the Adult Survivors Act helps to bring us closer to a safer music business for everyone. In a world where good news is often hard to find, I hope for survivors that today is a ray of light peeking through the clouds."
Imran H Ansari, a lawyer representing LA Reid, said: "Mr Reid has amicably resolved this matter with Ms Dixon without any admission of liability."
The settlement brings an end to a legal case that had cast a spotlight on the enduring issue of sexual misconduct and abuse of power within the music industry.
