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| Kevin Tsujihara:' It is in Warner Bros.’ best interest that I step down as Chairman and CEO.' |
ASAM NEWS
Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara has left Warner Bros. amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Days after the Japanese American CEO was given new responsibilities at the company earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter published a story detailing allegations of sexual misconduct. The article alleged that Tsujihara helped promote the career of actress Charlotte Kirk, with whom he was having a sexual relationship. According to CNBC, Tsujihara was being investigated for allegedly promising acting roles in exchange for sex.
WarnerMedia previously stated that a prior investigation found no evidence of misconduct.
“Through her spokesperson, the actress has publicly denied any impropriety in her casting, and our prior investigation did not find otherwise,” a WarnerMedia rep says in a statement. “Whenever we receive new allegations, it is our standard practice to conduct an appropriate investigation. And that is what we will do here.”
According to CNN, Tsujihara’s lawyer said he had no direct role in the hiring of Kirk. After the article was released, however, Tsujihara apologized for “mistakes in (his) personal life.”
The 54-year old has been with Warner Bros. for over 24 years. He became CEO in 2013 and the chairman a year later.
“Kevin has contributed greatly to the studio’s success over the past 25 years and for that we thank him,” WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey said in a statement Monday. “Kevin acknowledges that his mistakes are inconsistent with the company’s leadership expectations and could impact the company’s ability to execute going forward.”
Tsujihara also sent his colleagues a memo on Monday telling them he planned to step down. His full letter follows:
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past week and a half, I have been reflecting on how the attention on my past actions might impact the company’s future. After lengthy introspection, and discussions with John Stankey over the past week, we have decided that it is in Warner Bros.’ best interest that I step down as Chairman and CEO
I love this company and the people that make it so great. I’ve been honored to head this organization and work alongside all of its talented employees over the past 25 years. Together we’ve built this studio into an unequivocal leader in the industry.
However, it has become clear that my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success. The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won’t let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing.
I am overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support I have received from colleagues and industry partners during this difficult time.
Again, I am so proud of the great work that you do every day to make Warner Bros. the gold standard in our industry. It has been a pleasure to work alongside each and every one of you, and I wish you all the absolute best.
Sincerely,
Kevin
Up until he resigned, Tsujihara was the highest ranking Asian American in charge of a major Hollywood studio. Under his leadership, Warner Bros. helped produce the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians motion picture, the first studio-backed film with an all-Asian cast since the Joy Luck Club 25 years ago.
It was Tsujihara's passion and advocacy for the Crazy Rich Asians project that tilted the filmmakers to choose Warner Bros. as its Hollywood partner in 2016. “It’s not coincidental that [Warner Bros. C.E.O.] Kevin Tsujihara is the first Asian American studio boss,” said CRA executive prodcuer Nina Jacobson.
Views From the Edge conributed to this report.
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