Extrahost A.J. Calloway is denying an accusation that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2006.
THRsays its detailed story is based on interviews with corroborating witnesses and review of documents, text messages, and court orders. It quotes Abrams as saying that after meeting Calloway for a potential work opportunity, the then-BET host, who was married, began hitting on her over a period of weeks. Though she says she tried to keep their relationship professional, he allegedly kept trying to turn the conversation to sex.
But things allegedly escalated after getting drinks one night in December. Abrams claims Calloway exposed himself while driving her home.
“Do you see what you do to me?” Abrams recalled Calloway saying as he unzipped his pants.
“Why don’t you do us both a favor and put that away?” she responded.
As they arrived at Abrams’ home, she claimed he began kissing her and once again exposed himself. Calloway allegedly tried to push her head into his lap and eventually grabbed her hand and masturbated himself.
Abrams said Calloway called her and apologized later that night. But after confiding in friends, Abrams filed a police report, and Calloway was arrested.
Earl Gibson III/WireImage; Jerritt Clark/Getty
In a statement from his lawyer, the high-profile Calloway this week denied the allegations of sexual assault and said they had been dismissed.
Abrams claimed she recorded an interview with MSNBC’s Joy Reid about her alleged experiences with Calloway andRussell Simmons, who she alleged raped her in 1994. (Simmons has extensively denied these claims).
“I needed to tell my story, to say his name out loud, to let people know what he had done to me,” Abrams said, adding that she wanted to dispel the “one-and-done idea of assault.”
But after months of rigorous legal vetting from MSNBC’s legal team, the story was eventually scrapped — despite Abrams providing what she claimed to be solid evidence.
“When MSNBC pursues any investigative story our mission is always to be as thorough as we can, to scrutinize sources and corroborate information before we report. Anything else falls short of our journalistic standards,” an MSNBC spokesperson toldTHR.
“They took away my voice,” she toldTHR. “I want people to understand how incredibly challenging this is, with a story like mine that’s highly sourced, with me doing this [advocacy] work in the public arena. And I can’t get my story out there? If I didn’t have those things, let’s be very clear, no one would know about this today. I’m speaking out for all the other women who have been silenced, to let them know it’s not their fault.”
Extradid not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
