Jimmy Iovine, the recording industry executive and co-creator of Beats Electronics, was issued a summons this week, accusing him of sexual abuse and harassment. The claim came just before the deadline to file under New York State’s Adult Survivors Act.
According to Variety, the anonymous plaintiff alleged that she “suffered as a result of being sexually abused, forcibly touched, and subjected to sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of anti-discrimination laws in or around August 2007.”
Representatives for Iovine said they were “shocked and baffled” in a statement to the outlet and added that “this inquiry is the first we’ve heard of this matter. No one has ever made a claim like this against Jimmy Iovine, nor have we been contacted or made aware of any complaint by anyone, including this unknown plaintiff prior to now.”
The Messenger reached out to Iovine’s legal representative, who declined to give further comment.
Iovine has been a leader in the music industry for decades, beginning his career in the mid-1970s an engineer or producer on albums by Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, Meat Loaf, the Electric Light Orchestra, Merry Clayton, the Patti Smith Group, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks, Dire Straits and U2.
In 1989 he moved to the boardroom, co-founding Interscope Records with film producer Ted Field. Interscope artists have included Dr. Dre, Limp Bizkit, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Maroon 5 and more.
In 1999 Iovine became CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M, which merged three record labels under the Universal Music Group shingle. In 2006 he and Dr. Dre created Beats Electronics, manufacturer of headphones, speakers and other audio equipment. The company was bought by Apple in 2014 for $3 billion.
The suit against Iovine was one of a wave of similar accusations against well-known people before the Adult Survivors Act window closed. The last few days saw reports of allegations against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, and three separate suits against musician and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs.