Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Cinefamily Board Temporarily Suspends Programming To Investigate Sexual Misconduct Allegations
The Cinefamily Board of Directors has announced it is suspending all Cinefamily activities while an independent third party conducts an investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct at the popular theater. This past week, an email circulated among the Los Angeles film community alleging years of sexual harassment and impropriety at the theater, specifically from founder and now former Executive Director Hadrian Belove, as well as former board vice president Shadie Elnashai. Belove and Elnashai both resigned in response to the allegations.
Several former employees corroborate the environment in the initial email. One former female employee describes how "[t]here was never anyone safe I could go to to speak about any of my issues. Most of them involving Hadrian." Former employees also alleged the Board was aware of Belove's behavior but did little to change it.
In their statement, the Board says they have "no tolerance for any form of behavior that does not conform to the high standards demanded by our members and staff and that of common human decency." They mention an independent third party—specifically Giles Miller at Lynx Insights and Investigations—will perform the investigation. In a previous statement, Cinefamily said they were cooperating with Officer Russel Hess of the Los Angeles Police Department's Wilshire Division, whom Jezebel noted is actually an officer at the LAPD West Bureau. After contacting Officer Hess, he told Jezebel “We have no active investigations involving Cinefamily to my knowledge,”
Support for LAist comes from
LAist reached out to Cinefamily but did not hear back in time of publication. Giles Miller of Lynx Insights and Investigations did not have a comment at this time.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist