After nine women came forward to accuse opera star Plácido Domingo of sexual harassment, the Los Angeles Opera announced on Tuesday afternoon it will "engage outside counsel" to look into the allegations.
Domingo has been the L.A. Opera's general director since 2003. In an article published Tuesday morning by The Associated Press, the women — eight singers and a dancer — said Domingo sexually harassed them, with some incidents dating back to the late 1980s. They said Domingo pressured them into sexual relationships, and when they rebuffed his advances, he would sometimes punish them professionally. AP interviewed nearly three dozen additional singers, dancers, administrators, and orchestra musicians who said they saw Domingo act inappropriately.
Domingo, 78, told AP the allegations are "deeply troubling and, as presented, inaccurate," and he "believed that all of my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual." Since the article's publication, the Philadelphia Orchestra has rescinded an invitation for Domingo to appear at its opening night concert in September, and the San Francisco Opera has canceled a concert scheduled for Oct. 6, which would have marked the 50th anniversary of Domingo performing with the company.