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| ‘Extra’ Host A.J. Calloway Suspended Following Sexual Assault Allegations | ‘Extra’ Host A.J. Calloway Suspended Following Sexual Assault Allegations |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A.J. Calloway, a host on the entertainment news show “Extra,” was suspended by Warner Bros. on Saturday amid a growing number of accusations of sexual misconduct. | A.J. Calloway, a host on the entertainment news show “Extra,” was suspended by Warner Bros. on Saturday amid a growing number of accusations of sexual misconduct. |
| In June, The Hollywood Reporter published the account of Sil Lai Abrams, a writer and domestic violence awareness activist, who said Mr. Calloway had groped her breast and exposed himself to her in his car in 2006. She said he tried to force her head onto his lap and later masturbated after placing her hand on his lap. | In June, The Hollywood Reporter published the account of Sil Lai Abrams, a writer and domestic violence awareness activist, who said Mr. Calloway had groped her breast and exposed himself to her in his car in 2006. She said he tried to force her head onto his lap and later masturbated after placing her hand on his lap. |
| Then in January, The Daily Beast published the accounts of two unnamed women who said that Mr. Calloway had also sexually assaulted them. One of the women said Mr. Calloway had lain on top of her after a party at his home and repeatedly tried to open her blouse and pull down her skirt. She said he tried to place her hand on him while he masturbated. | Then in January, The Daily Beast published the accounts of two unnamed women who said that Mr. Calloway had also sexually assaulted them. One of the women said Mr. Calloway had lain on top of her after a party at his home and repeatedly tried to open her blouse and pull down her skirt. She said he tried to place her hand on him while he masturbated. |
| On Saturday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Mr. Calloway had been suspended as it was preparing to publish more allegations against him. | On Saturday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Mr. Calloway had been suspended as it was preparing to publish more allegations against him. |
| “In light of additional allegations brought to our attention, we are expanding our ongoing inquiries, and Mr. Calloway has been suspended pending further review,” Warner Bros. said in a statement. | “In light of additional allegations brought to our attention, we are expanding our ongoing inquiries, and Mr. Calloway has been suspended pending further review,” Warner Bros. said in a statement. |
| Mr. Calloway could not be reached for comment Saturday. His lawyer, Lisa E. Davis, said in an email that the “unsubstantiated allegations are patently false.” | Mr. Calloway could not be reached for comment Saturday. His lawyer, Lisa E. Davis, said in an email that the “unsubstantiated allegations are patently false.” |
| “He vehemently denies ever having assaulted anyone and looks forward to clearing his name,” Ms. Davis said. | “He vehemently denies ever having assaulted anyone and looks forward to clearing his name,” Ms. Davis said. |
| Mr. Calloway has been with “Extra” since 2005, and has focused on interviewing celebrities around New York City. He had gained fame as the host of the BET music video show “106 & Park,” where he began his television career. | Mr. Calloway has been with “Extra” since 2005, and has focused on interviewing celebrities around New York City. He had gained fame as the host of the BET music video show “106 & Park,” where he began his television career. |
| Warner Bros. said that when it first became aware of the sexual misconduct allegations, it had investigated whether “there had been any misconduct by Mr. Calloway on ‘Extra’ and whether any employee of the show had been the victim of any such misconduct.” | Warner Bros. said that when it first became aware of the sexual misconduct allegations, it had investigated whether “there had been any misconduct by Mr. Calloway on ‘Extra’ and whether any employee of the show had been the victim of any such misconduct.” |
| The company said that as of Saturday, it had not found evidence of workplace misconduct by Mr. Calloway. It was unclear how Warner Bros. had expanded its inquiries. | The company said that as of Saturday, it had not found evidence of workplace misconduct by Mr. Calloway. It was unclear how Warner Bros. had expanded its inquiries. |
| Ms. Abrams said in an interview on Saturday that the company’s response was insufficient, and that it appeared to focus on Mr. Calloway’s actions in the workplace, instead of his conduct outside of it. | Ms. Abrams said in an interview on Saturday that the company’s response was insufficient, and that it appeared to focus on Mr. Calloway’s actions in the workplace, instead of his conduct outside of it. |
| “It shouldn’t take multiple accusations of women going on the record for a company to launch an investigation into the actions of one of their employees,” Ms. Abrams said. | “It shouldn’t take multiple accusations of women going on the record for a company to launch an investigation into the actions of one of their employees,” Ms. Abrams said. |
| She said the company should have acted sooner, especially after her account was published in June. Mr. Calloway was arrested after the police investigated Ms. Abrams’s 2006 allegation, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which said the case was later dismissed on “procedural grounds.” | She said the company should have acted sooner, especially after her account was published in June. Mr. Calloway was arrested after the police investigated Ms. Abrams’s 2006 allegation, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which said the case was later dismissed on “procedural grounds.” |
| One of the latest accusers also filed a complaint with the West Orange Police Department in New Jersey, according to The Daily Beast. | |
| James P. Abbott, the chief of the department, said Saturday that it had received a complaint of aggravated sexual assault on Dec. 24, but he declined to answer further questions about what he called an “ongoing investigation.” | James P. Abbott, the chief of the department, said Saturday that it had received a complaint of aggravated sexual assault on Dec. 24, but he declined to answer further questions about what he called an “ongoing investigation.” |