Dov Charney, American Apparel CEO, Sued By Kimbra Lo For Sexual Harassment

Four more former American Apparel employees have filed a lawsuit against CEO Dov Charney, the New York Times reports.

Kimbra Lo, Alyssa Ferguson, Marissa Wilson and Tesa Lubans-Dehaven are all named in the Los Angeles Superior Court documents -- although only Lo's complaint has been made public. The 19-year-old says she visited Charney's home last December, seven months after she quit her job as an American Apparel sales associate, to talk about being rehired as a model and photographer.

The Times writes:

Ms. Lo claimed that Mr. Charney, wrapped in a towel, invited her to his bedroom to talk about a job. Once there, she said he undressed her and tried to have sex. Ms. Lo said she sought to resist but was afraid, and that he tried to take photographs.

[...]

Ms. Lo said that after the December meeting she called her mother who, in turn, called Mr. Charney and "demanded he never contact her daughter again." Ms. Lo said she contacted Mr. Charney to demand an apology.

Charney's lawyer Peter Schey told the Times, "The allegations are false. I think this is an effort to shake down American Apparel."

If so, it's quite the elaborate, and coincidental, effort.

Earlier this month, another former American Apparel employee, Irene Morales, filed a $250 lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court after "enduring eight anguished months of forced sex," according to the New York Daily News. Morales appeared on "The Today Show" to talk about the circumstances, explaining "I thought it was almost normal. I thought everyone in the retail or fashion industry had to go through something similar to that. But I didn't think anything else of it."

But the most disturbing bits from the "Today" segment were from Charney's sworn depositions from previous sexual harassment suits against him, none of which went to trial. In his own words: "I frequently drop my pants to show people my new product," and "There's some of us that love sluts. It could be also an endearing term."

There's no word yet on how much Lo is seeking in damages.

Comments

[PaulBunyun]

10:44 PM on 03/28/2011

On the Today Show, Irene Morales said that she was raped in 2008.
But she sends him all of those raunchy e-mails and asks for money and clothes from 2008--2010. Then she goes to visit him in LA from NY in 2010.

How does this woman's behavior even begin to make sense. And she wasn't even working for Don when she sent most of those e-mails so she wasn't at risk of losing a job.

[TheBigLebowski]

06:04 PM on 03/28/2011

The Fashionista article offers way more insight on this case. A lot more than mainstream news like HP is willing to admit.

http://fashionista.com/2011/03/american-apparel-shake-down-continues-internet-smear-campaign-launches-against-dov-charneys-accusers-2/

[Randomizer]

12:23 PM on 03/27/2011

All I see is an environment where demeaning others with sex is a means to exert power. Looks like the he said she said should include some culpability on both sides. If Charney were an upstanding person, he wouldn't create an environment where this would become part of his business persona, but he does and flaunts it without caring about the consequences or the fact that it's exploitation.

It seems like buying something made in the USA might be a cool thing, but then you hear about this crap and it makes you think twice about what consitutes exploitation. Rather than take a "side", I'm just walking away from this open sore.

[PaulBunyun]

06:05 AM on 03/27/2011

You can also read in Huffington Post, that Abercrombie & Fitch is selling padded bikini tops to 8 year old children. I think that is more out of line.

[PaulBunyun]

06:04 AM on 03/27/2011

And what about the smut that Abercrombie and Fitch uses? I personally think all their gay erotic ads are disgusting. And why do all of their male greeters have to be shirtless?

Interesting note is that many of their models are actual store employees like at American Apparel. A lot of young people getting started in the modeling and entertainment industry probably seek out those jobs. When are women over the age of 18 going to be held responsible for their actions. We send 18 years olds to die in war for pete's sake.

[PaulBunyun]

05:58 AM on 03/27/2011

Ok, so if you actually read the New York Post article, the Fashionista article, and the Gawker article, and check out those blogs, you can see that Irene Morales sent all those e-mails AFTER when she claims the alleged RAPE took place.

What rape victim sends over 40 nude photos of herself and love letters to her rapist???

And she was 20 and not at all employed by the company when she claims the alleged rape took place. How do you lose a job you don't even have?

[PaulBunyun]

03:17 PM on 03/26/2011

These blogs are NSFW.

But I should remind you as well that these women are claiming rape, kidnapping, assault and asking for 250 million each. This is not your typical case. And they are making their rounds with the talk shows and tabloids. Remember folks, this is a civil lawsuit, not a criminal case. They are only in it for the money.

[PaulBunyun]

04:17 AM on 03/26/2011

He shouldn't settle because they are obviously taking him for a ride. They are asking for billions and lying. They demean REAL VICTIMS of sexual molestation all over the world. Check out these ladies' blogs here.

www.kimbralo.blogspot.com

www.irenemoralesphotos.blogspot.com

www.alyssaferguson.blogspot.com

[PaulBunyun]

04:19 AM on 03/26/2011

It's really fun to look at their blogs while playing their Today Show interviews simultaneously.

[Konrad Klean]

12:09 PM on 03/26/2011

I think you should stress that these blogs are NSFW and graphically explicit.
I would also like to remind you that they were most likely put up by Cherney himself or someone working for him, therefore most of the written statements aren't something to be even considered.

[Mr Bobo]

07:33 PM on 03/25/2011

Okay, as much as I hate Dov Charney, I've seen these girls NSFW blogs and I'm thinking the best they can hope for is a quick settlement. No noe seems to be innocent in these incestuous work trysts they have going on at American Apparel. Seems like if he isn't pursuing them, they're pursuing him. Ick!

[bibimimi]

01:11 AM on 03/25/2011

When times are tough and jobs are dear, the likelihood of abuse by a boss increases exponentially. Charney is a lecher, and l won't buy his brand anymore.

[D Gabster]

01:07 AM on 03/25/2011

Dov Charney's sexual exploits is nothing new in the fashion industry. He has been harassing his female employees for years. I hope this time, he gets jail time.

[Xylem44]

10:52 PM on 03/24/2011

This is so disturbing... "I thought it was almost normal. I thought everyone in the retail or fashion industry had to go through something similar to that. But I didn't think anything else of it."

DID SE REALLY THINK THAT ALL RETAIL WORKERS WERE EXPECTED TO HAVE SEXwithBOSS? Then i hope she is sueing for more than $250 dollars.

[shag11]

10:29 PM on 03/24/2011

Just look at that freak, you know he's guilty. Okay, everyone is allowed their day in court, but as a man, I wouldn't be caught alone with him, and if I did, I'd be ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

[topkatnc]

10:23 PM on 03/24/2011

I'm surprised that HP keegs letting them advertise here on their site ... pictures are way to racey , but now I understand why ....

[layman]

09:57 PM on 03/24/2011

Creepy unctuous old man has the proclivity for teenage girls earning minimum wages. That's pretty disgusting.