Twenty-seven people say they were sexually harassed by Placido Domingo or witnessed his inappropriate behavior at two U.S. opera companies, sources tell AP. The allegations came in an investigation conducted by a union representing opera performers.
FILE - In this May 23, 2007, file photo, Placido Domingo, general director of the Washington National Opera, speaks during a news conference in Washington about a simulcast of a performance of La Boheme. An investigation into Domingo by the U.S.
The union’s investigation was the first of two independent inquiries launched after multiple women accused Domingo of sexual harassment and abusing his power in two AP stories published last year. The second inquiry, still ongoing, was launched by LA Opera, where Domingo had been general director since 2003 before resigning in October.
In the rest of his statement to the AP, Domingo said, “I understand now that some women may have feared expressing themselves honestly because of a concern that their careers would be adversely affected if they did so. While that was never my intention, no one should ever be made to feel that way. The people familiar with the investigation said Domingo, now 79, had reiterated his denials of wrongdoing to investigators and contended that he did not occupy a position of power over his colleagues and their careers. They said he told investigators he had engaged in flirtatious behavior but did not cross a line into inappropriate touching or behavior like asking colleagues to meet privately in his residence.
In the AP stories, more than 20 women accused Domingo of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior in encounters taking place from the late 1980s to the 2000s. Dozens more said his behavior was an open secret in the industry.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AP PHOTOS: A corps of women covering the Weinstein trialMuch of what the world has seen and heard about Harvey Weinstein's rape trial has come from a core group of women journalists — the regulars at the Manhattan courthouse who would be there...
Read more »
Plácido Domingo apologizes for 'hurt that I caused' as investigation finds misconduct'I am truly sorry,' Plácido Domingo says as the union representing opera performers prepares to release the findings of its investigation.
Read more »
Probe into abuse at America's oldest deaf school finds 'appalling truths'An investigation into inappropriate conduct at America's oldest school for deaf people corroborated multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse that stretched decades, school officials said say.
Read more »
Extradition hearing to begin for WikiLeaks founder AssangeLONDON (AP) — Supporters of Julian Assange gathered Monday outside a high-security London courthouse, where a judge opened a hearing into a U.S. extradition case against the WikiLeaks...
Read more »