Legendary Television president Chris Albrecht has been positioned on a depart of absence by the organization, a spokesperson for Legendary showed to Variety Monday. No reliable cause for the exec’s depart of absence became furnished.
Albrecht has been benched just as an upcoming e book, “It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Future of HBO” by Felix Gillette and John Koblin, offers information at the executive’s long tenure at HBO, including a 1991 incident wherein Albrecht allegedly choked Sasha Emerson, a former HBO executive VP. Albrecht denies the allegations as special inside the book. On Monday, a spokesman for Albrecht reiterated his denial of the account.
The e book, set for release on Nov. 1, alleges that Albrecht lunged at and strangled Emerson. At the time both executives had been married and had allegedly been worried in an affair that had given that ended. Emerson later engaged out of doors counsel and a mediation turned into held in Los Angeles, consistent with the book.
In the book, Albrecht states that he “rejects and disagrees with the characterization of what took place” within the 1991 incident. He is thought to be on paid leave from Legendary.
In a declaration to Variety Monday nighttime, Albrecht defined the allegations as an “old, wrong story” being “refurbished and recycled for the sake of sales.
“I even have sincerely apologized to those whom I offended with disrespect and unacceptable behavior,” Albrecht said. “But that doesn’t promote books or generate media interest. Some things do certainly age well; however horrific reporting does now not.”
The e book info the alleged assault on Emerson and the lengths that HBO’s senior executives on the time went to preserve the incident quiet. The e-book also describes Emerson’s expert struggles in amusement after leaving HBO with a private agreement as rumors spread. She eventually became a a success indoors clothier. More currently Emerson come returned into entertainment as a representative to AMC Networks in addition to mentoring playwrights, actors, writers and directors, according to the book.
Albrecht had a storied 20-yr run at HBO, overseeing the boom of the original content for the trailblazing top rate cabler with such influential hits as “The Sorpranos,” “Sex and the City,” “Six Feet Under” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” But he became pressured to surrender as chairman-CEO under a cloud in May 2007 following a public altercation with his then-lady friend at a cable industry conference in Las Vegas. He faced extended strain to surrender after the Los Angeles Times reported at the alleged 1991 altercation with Emerson.
Before joining Legendary in 2019, Albrecht had served a 10-yr tenure because the chief of pay cabler Starz.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to report news of Albrecht’s administrative depart.
References
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