PinkNews, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ news platform, is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic work environment. Staff have accused founder Benjamin Cohen and his husband, Anthony James, of inappropriate behaviour, including incidents involving junior employees.
Over 30 current and former employees have described a workplace culture marked by heavy drinking, which they claim enabled inappropriate actions. Multiple witnesses reported seeing Dr James, PinkNews’ COO, kissing and touching a junior staff member who appeared too intoxicated to consent during a work event.
A former staff member, referred to as Gary, alleged, “Anthony was just forcing himself on somebody who wasn’t able to make that decision for themselves because of how intoxicated they were.” Despite complaints made to senior leadership, it remains unclear if any action was taken.
Founder Benjamin Cohen is also accused of inappropriate behaviour. One former employee, Damian, recounted an incident where Mr Cohen, allegedly intoxicated, made unwanted advances. “He asked me to go back to his… because Anthony wasn’t there,” Damian claimed.
Former employees described PinkNews as having a “toxic” work environment. Staff noted that Cohen often belittled and shouted at employees, leaving many in emotional distress. Cai Wilshaw, a former senior employee, characterised Cohen as “a very, very difficult character,” whose presence cast a “dark cloud” over the office.
Several staff members also reported misogynistic behaviour, with young female employees allegedly being asked to act as surrogates for Cohen and Dr James. While such comments were often framed as jokes, they left employees feeling uncomfortable.
Former employee Stephan Kyriacou, who described his time at PinkNews as starting as a “dream come true,” said his experience quickly soured. He recalled an incident where Cohen slapped him on the bottom at a company event, leaving him shocked and avoiding further one-on-one interactions with his boss.
Kyriacou and other staff said they were reluctant to voice complaints due to fears of retaliation. “Ben is very well-known, and we didn’t know whether he was going to badmouth us to people,” Kyriacou explained.
Despite the allegations, many staff members stressed the importance of PinkNews’ mission to report on LGBTQ+ issues, noting that mainstream media often neglects such stories. However, they expressed doubts about the company’s future under its current leadership.
“Ben needs to be held to account,” Damian said. “Until the day that happens, I don’t know if there’s a future for PinkNews.”
Representatives for Cohen and Dr James have denied the allegations.
