Charlie Walk and Republic Records ‘Part Ways’ Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Charlie Walk and Republic Records have gone their separate ways. 

The news, first reported by Variety, comes nearly two months after Walk, the company’s former president, was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee. He was placed on leave by Republic Records at the end of January while they investigated the allegation. In a statement to ET, Walk denied the accusation.

“Republic Records and Charlie Walk have mutually agreed to part ways,” according to a statement from the label obtained by ET.

Life Lab founder Tristan Coopersmith, who worked with Walk when he was an executive at Sony Music’s Columbia Records, was the first woman to come forward accusing Walk of sexual harassment, after which he abruptly exited NBC’s singing competition show, The Four. 

“Out of respect for the contestants, my fellow judges and everyone involved with the show, I have made the decision not to attend the finale of The Four,” Walk expressed in a statement given to ET by his attorney, Patricia Glaser on Jan. 31. “I do not want my presence to be a distraction.”

“Needless to say this is very upsetting. Although I continue to support the Me Too movement, there has been an extreme rush to judgment against me in this particular case which is unfair and inconsistent with anything that even actually happened,” he continued. “I welcome any investigation so that in short order these unfounded and hurtful accusations can be put to rest.”

Four other women later accused Walk of sexual harassment in a piece published by Rolling Stone in February. Walk denied the allegations in a statement to the magazine at the time. 

“I did not do these things and this is not who I am. Throughout my career I have always sought to conduct myself professionally and appropriately. It is upsetting to be presented with false claims from long ago that I know to be untrue and were never reported,” he said. “I support the national discussion taking place right now because I believe fully in the importance in treating everyone with respect and dignity at all times.”

Reporting by Joe Siyam. 

ET has reached out to Walk’s rep for comment. 

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