Chris Albrecht, the president of Legendary Tv, has been positioned on a go away of absence by the corporate, a spokesperson confirmed to Selection on Monday. No official cause for the exec’s go away of absence was supplied.
Albrecht has been benched simply as an upcoming ebook, “It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Way forward for HBO” by Felix Gillette and John Koblin, presents particulars on the manager’s lengthy tenure at HBO, together with a 1991 incident during which Albrecht allegedly choked Sasha Emerson, a former HBO govt VP. Albrecht denies the allegations as detailed within the ebook. On Monday, a spokesperson for Albrecht reiterated his denial of the account.
The ebook, set for launch on Nov. 1, alleges that Albrecht lunged at and strangled Emerson. On the time each executives had been married and had allegedly been concerned in an affair that had since ended, the ebook says. Emerson later engaged exterior counsel and a mediation was held in Los Angeles, in response to the ebook.
Within the ebook, Albrecht states that he “rejects and disagrees with the characterization of what occurred” within the 1991 incident. NBC Information has contacted each the authorized crew representing Albrecht and Emerson for remark.
In an announcement to Selection Monday night, Albrecht described the allegations as an “previous, flawed story” being “refurbished and recycled for the sake of gross sales.
“I’ve sincerely apologized to these whom I offended with disrespect and unacceptable habits,” Albrecht acknowledged. “However that doesn’t promote books or generate media consideration. Some issues do certainly age effectively; however unhealthy reporting doesn’t.”
The ebook particulars the alleged assault on Emerson and the lengths that HBO’s senior executives on the time went to maintain the incident quiet. The ebook additionally describes Emerson’s skilled struggles in leisure after leaving HBO with a confidential settlement as rumors unfold. She ultimately grew to become a profitable inside designer. Extra not too long ago Emerson come again into leisure as a marketing consultant to AMC Networks in addition to mentoring playwrights, actors, writers and administrators, in response to the ebook.
Albrecht had a storied 20-year run at HBO, overseeing the expansion of the unique content material for the trailblazing premium cabler with such influential hits as “The Sopranos,” “Intercourse and the Metropolis,” “Six Ft Beneath” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” However he was compelled to resign as chairman-CEO underneath a cloud in Might 2007 following a public altercation together with his then-girlfriend at a cable business convention in Las Vegas. He confronted elevated stress to resign after the Los Angeles Instances reported on the alleged 1991 altercation with Emerson.
Earlier than becoming a member of Legendary in 2019, Albrecht had served a 10-year tenure because the chief of pay cabler Starz.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to report information of Albrecht’s administrative go away.
