New York: The chief executive of ‘Time’s Up’, the movement which rose in response to the Harvey Weinstein scandal, resigned from her position Friday following allegations of sexual misconduct against her son.
Lisa Borders, who is also the former president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, took the reins of ‘Time’s Up’ in early October.
The 61-year-old stepped down after Celia Gellert alleged in a Facebook post that her son, Garry ‘Dijon’ Bowden (Jr), 36, was sexually inappropriate with her after offering her a ‘healing session’.
Gellert told the ‘Los Angeles Times’ she felt ‘violated’ when, according to her, Bowden touched her genitals, kissed her neck, and brushed his penis against her body during the session.
An attorney for Bowden vehemently denied ‘any inappropriate or non-consensual touching’ to the ‘LA Times’ and showed the paper a text message in which the Gellert had thanked Bowden, calling the massage ‘gentle and authentic and loving’.
A statement posted by Time’s Up on Instagram said, “Time’s Up unequivocally supports all survivors of sexual abuse and harassment.”
The statement added that Borders had taken the decision to tell the group’s leadership Friday about the allegations and resigned the same day, ‘and we agreed that it was the right decision for all parties involved. We respect the rights of all survivors to own their own stories’, it continued, urging others to come forward and contact ‘Time’s Up’ should they need legal assistance.
AFP