Amazon Studios chief quits after sex harassment claims

Amazon Studios chief Roy Price resigned from his role as the company’s head of video content after claims from producer Isa Hackett.

Rose McGowan has also accused him of failing to report an allegation that she was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, the veteran Hollywood producer facing a string of harassment claims.

Price, 50, has reportedly been accused of sexually harassing Ms Hackett, producer of Amazon show The Man In The High Castle.

Ms Hackett alleged that Price repeatedly propositioned her on the way to, and during, an Amazon party in San Diego in 2015.

She said she made it clear to Price she was not interested, telling him that she was a lesbian with a wife and children.

Price was last week put on indefinite leave after he was accused of ignoring actress Rose McGowan’s claims that Weinstein had raped her.

Ms McGowan, 44, wrote, “HW raped me” in a series of tweets to Amazon chief executive and founder Jeff Bezos.

The actress, one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment, posted: “I told the head of your studio that HW raped me. Over and over I said it. He said it hadn’t been proven. I said I was the proof.”

A representative for Price confirmed that he had decided to step down. Price has yet to respond to the claims against him.

Weinstein, 65, has denied several rape allegations, claiming all sexual encounters were consensual. In a further development, Weinstein’s younger brother Bob – with whom he founded the Weinstein Company – has also been accused of harassment.

He strongly denies sexually harassing TV producer Amanda Segel.

Amazon spokesman Jeff Blackburn said: “The news coming out of Hollywood over the past week has been shocking and disturbing, and unfortunately we are a part of it. It’s sad and very disappointing to me. 

“Amazon does not tolerate harassment or abuse of our employees or our business partners.” He also told employees: “I’d like to emphasise that, at any time, if you have any concerns related to harassment or abuse at Amazon, please immediately report the incident to your manager, your HR business partner, the legal department or the Amazon ethics hotline.”