Warner Bros.' Tsujihara steps down following scandal
(Courtesy: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) - Warner Bros. chief Kevin Tsujihara, one of the highest ranking Hollywood executives to be felled by sexual misconduct allegations, stepped down from the studio Monday following claims that he promised roles to an actress in exchange for sex.
WarnerMedia chief executive John Stankey announced Tsujihara's exit as chairman and chief executive of Warner Bros., saying his departure was in the studio's "best interest."
"Kevin has contributed greatly to the studio's success over the past 25 years and for that we thank him," said Stankey. "Kevin acknowledges that his mistakes are inconsistent with the company's leadership expectations and could impact the company's ability to execute going forward."
Earlier this month, WarnerMedia launched an investigation after a March 6 Hollywood Reporter story detailed text messages between Tsujihara and British actress Charlotte Kirk going back to 2013. The messages suggested a quid pro quo sexual relationship between the aspiring actress and the studio head in which he made promises that he'd introduce her to influential executives and she'd be considered for roles in movies and television.
In a memo to Warner Bros. staff on Monday obtained by The Associated Press, Tsujihara said he was departing "after lengthy introspection, and discussions with John Stankey over the past week."
"It has become clear that my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company's continued success," said Tsujihara. "The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won't let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing."
Tsujihara's attorney, Bert Deixler, said Tsujihara had no further comment. Tsujihara, who has headed the Burbank, California, studio since 2013, earlier apologized to Warner Bros. staff for "mistakes in my personal life that have caused pain and embarrassment to the people I love the most."
WarnerMedia, the studio's parent company, said Monday that its investigation into the situation, carried out by a third-party law firm, is continuing.
Kirk appeared in Warner Bros.' "How to Be Single" in 2016 and "Ocean's 8" in 2018. She has denied any inappropriate behavior on the part of Tsujihara or two other executives, Brett Ratner and James Packer, who she communicated with. "Mr. Tsujihara never promised me anything," Kirk said in an earlier statement.
The scandal unfolded just as Warner Bros. was restructuring on the heels of AT&T's takeover of WarnerMedia, previously known as Time Warner. Tsujihara's role had just been expanded on Feb. 28 to include global kids and family entertainment.
Tsujihara, 54, has presided over a largely positive Warner Bros. era with little fanfare. A former home video and video game executive at the company, he has leaned heavily on franchise creation, some of which have worked, some of which haven't.
After poor marks from fans and critics, the studio's DC Comics films have recently been retooled and found their footing in hits like "Wonder Woman" and "Aquaman." Other franchises -- like "The Lego Movie" and the "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" -- have sputtered in their latest incarnations. The studio has also fostered its connection with filmmakers like Christopher Nolan ("Dunkirk") and Bradley Cooper (whose "A Star Is Born" was Warner Bros.' top Oscar contender).
Warner Bros. will now begin a search for a new studio chief as it also prepare to launch a streaming service designed to compete with Netflix.