Touré has admitted to sexually harassing a former collaborator.
The veteran journalist made the admission in a statement to Essence, writing, "Our team, including myself, engaged in edgy, crass banter, that at the time I did not think was offensive for our tight-knit group. I am sorry for my language and for making her feel uncomfortable in any way."
The allegations against the writer surfaced Thursday.
A makeup artist who worked with Touré while Time, Inc. employed him said the journalist would often make lewd remarks toward her, including questioning her about anal sex.
The artist, named Dani, said she was moved to make her story public after seeing the journalist do press in support of his appearance in the Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly; the makeup artist first posted the details of her story in the comments section of a podcast on which Touré appeared.
Dani said she was disturbed by the journalist's outspokenness not only about Kelly but about other accused predators.
“He went on Hot 97 to talk about Harvey Weinstein,” Dani said. “I accepted his apology and was okay to move on, but you can’t be a sexual predator and go around shaming other predators.”
According to Dani, Touré was fired by Time after she complained to the human resources department. The journalist did stop working for the company around the time the artist says she filed her report.
Complex reports dream hampton, producer of the Surviving R. Kelly series, also issued a statement, noting she invited Touré to participate in the project because of a 2008 interview he did with Kelly in which he explicitly asked the singer whether he had any romantic interest in teenage girls. Kelly said he did not.
No, I didn't know Toure sexually harassed someone he worked with, I'm not sure how I could have known. He was included because he did the most famous interview with R. Kelly ever. Like Charlamagne, I wish he'd told me.
— dream hampton (@dreamhampton) January 11, 2019
"I didn't know Touré sexually harassed someone he worked with, I'm not sure how I could have known," hampton wrote. "I wish he'd told me."
Actor Terry Crews has also weighed in on the matter, canceling an appearance on Touré's show. The actor announced he would not be participating by retweeting a promotion for the show's taping and writing simply and in all caps, "CANCELLED."
CANCELLED https://t.co/NkgGKjU9Do
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 10, 2019
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