Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara Allegedly Traded Sex for Movie Roles With Actress

Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara has released a statement apologizing for his inappropriate actions in the past amid a sexual misconduct investigation launched by WarnerMedia.

Tsujihara allegedly entered a sexual relationship with British actress Charlotte Kirk in exchange for getting her roles in movies, according to The Hollywood Reporter which published some of the hundreds of leaked text messages between both parties.

Kirk ended up appearing in two films under Warner Bros., including “How to be Single” in 2016 and the 2018 all-female reboot “Ocean’s 8.” However, the 54-year-old CEO’s attorney denies the allegations, stating, “Mr. Tsujihara had no direct role in the hiring of this actress.”

The situation became rocky between the parties when Kirk felt that her career in Hollywood did not progress as fast as she had hoped.

The actress met Tsujihara through Brett Ratner and James Packer, whom she was previously involved with romantically. However, the actress denied any inappropriate behavior and confirmed her relationship with Packer in her statement to THR.

“I emphatically deny any inappropriate behaviour on the part of Brett Ratner, James Packer, and Kevin Tsujihara, and I have no claims against any of them. I confirm that I was in a romantic relationship with James Packer in the summer of 2013 and that I was treated with respect by Mr. Packer, and I have no issues with him or claims against him,” she said.

“I further confirm that when the relationship ended I sought the advice of Mr. Tsujihara whom I had been introduced to by Mr. Packer. Mr. Tsujihara never promised me anything,” Kirk continued.

WarnerMedia launched an investigation with law firm Munger Tolles & Olson after receiving an anonymous tip about a top Warner Bros. executive promising a role to an actress, known only as “CK,” in exchange for her silence in September 2018, but the company said it had found no evidence of misconduct in their search.

“Through her spokesperson, the actress has publicly denied any impropriety in her casting, and our prior investigation did not find otherwise,” a representative of WarnerMedia said in a statement. “Whenever we receive new allegations, it is our standard practice to conduct an appropriate investigation. And that is what we will do here.”

In a memo that THR acquired, Tsujihara apologized for his past actions and expressed regret over causing embarrassment to the company and his colleagues.

He then continued to address the previous probe that WarnerMedia conducted and added, “Following these most recent news reports, the company will again work with a third-party law firm to review the situation, and I will cooperate fully with this investigation.”

Read the full Tsujihara statement below:

“Dear Colleagues,

By now, you’ve all seen the news reports from earlier this week.

I deeply regret that I have made mistakes in my personal life that have caused pain and embarrassment to the people I love the most. I also deeply regret that these personal actions have caused embarrassment to the company and to all of you. I realized some time ago you are right to expect more from me and I set a course to do better. That journey continues.

I am so proud of the great work you do every day. Together, we have built a company that is the gold standard in our industry. Warner Bros.’ culture is as important to our success as our business model. We need to continue the hard work we’ve done over the years to create a workplace where everyone feels included and heard. To that end, I’ve asked HR to make additional accommodations if anyone needs to talk.

Since WarnerMedia’s leadership became aware of details surrounding this situation some time ago, it has carefully reviewed the matter and handled appropriately, including having engaged a third-party law firm to conduct a series of inquiries. Following these most recent news reports, the company will again work with a third-party law firm to review the situation, and I will cooperate fully with this investigation.

Please don’t let my mistakes become a distraction. It’s important that we all stay focused on our work — and part of that is creating a culture and company of which we can all be proud. Thank you all for everything you do to make that happen every day.

Sincerely,

Kevin”

Featured Image Screenshot via YouTube / CNBC International TV

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