Placido Domingo
The American Guild of Musical Artists AGMA has launched its own investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Spanish singer Placido Domingo, stating that one cannot be sure that the involved opera companies will examine the allegations sufficiently themselves. The Guild says its investigation was prompted by two Associated Press stories in which multiple women accused the opera legend of sexual harassment or other inappropriate conduct.
AGMA has retained J. Bruce Maffeo of Cozen O’Connor, a former federal prosecutor, to conduct the Union’s investigation.
The Union says in a news release: « In the wake of the initial allegations against Mr. Domingo, first published on August 13, AGMA demanded that its signatory companies that employed Domingo launch full investigations into the allegations against him. Since that time, however, the companies that have begun their own investigations have been unwilling or unable to provide AGMA with sufficient assurances about the scope and timing of their investigations, as well as whether or not the findings will be publicly disclosed or otherwise made available to the Union. »
“Given the uncertainty surrounding the investigations of our signatory companies, AGMA’s internal investigation will not be limited to conduct that occurred at a specific company or at a particular time,” said AGMA National Executive Director Len Egert. “Our investigation will also examine the systemic failures within the industry that could have allowed this conduct, if substantiated, to continue unchallenged for decades. In light of the seriousness of the allegations, and the number of AGMA members who may have been affected, we believe this investigation is necessary at this time.”
