LONDON — A British businessman known as the King of Retail Fashion and dogged by claims of sexual harassment and racist abuse has been charged in the United States with four counts of misdemeanor assault after a fitness instructor in Arizona accused him of unwanted groping and sexually inappropriate behavior. The woman, Katie Surridge, 37, who teaches Pilates at a luxury resort in Tucson, told the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph that the retailer, Sir Philip Green, whose company, Arcadia Group, is behind such major brands as Top Shop, touched her repeatedly and made sexual comments on several occasions between 2016 and 2018. She said his behavior made her feel “almost like a prostitute.”A hearing in the case was scheduled for June 19, but Mr. Green was not planning to attend, according to an emailed statement from Arcadia, which said that he strongly denied the allegations. In Britain, Mr. Green, 67, carved out a reputation as a gregarious social force who was often photographed in the company of models, movie stars and musicians like Beyoncé. But then five former employees accused him of systemic sexual harassment and racist abuse, revelations that turned into one of the biggest #MeToo scandals in the country, prompting a debate over press freedom, the right to privacy and the validity of nondisclosure agreements.

Source: New York Times June 01, 2019 12:22 UTC