The founders of PinkNews, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ website, have vehemently denied allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace impropriety, calling them “false, inconsistent, and malicious.”
In their first public statement since the allegations surfaced, Benjamin Cohen, the founder of PinkNews, and his husband Anthony James, the site’s chief operating officer, addressed the claims through an open letter, stating that the public has been “misled.”
The controversy emerged following a BBC documentary, PinkNews: Behind Closed Doors, which featured testimony from 30 current and former employees who alleged a culture of excessive drinking at work events, leading to inappropriate behaviour by Cohen and James.
Specific claims aired in the programme included allegations that Mr James kissed and touched a junior colleague who was reportedly too intoxicated to consent. One former staff member remarked, “When the CEO of the company is supposedly the biggest liability at the Christmas party, it’s not a great look.”
The couple initially refrained from commenting on the allegations due to an ongoing criminal investigation. However, in their statement, they criticised the BBC for proceeding with the broadcast despite being aware of the police inquiry. They wrote:
“Despite the BBC being aware of the police investigation, it chose to broadcast and misled the public about our response… The impact of the BBC’s reporting on our family life has been significant, and it has caused extremely serious harm to us, PinkNews, and our colleagues.”
The BBC defended the programme, stating that it acted in the public interest and had approached Cohen and James for comment prior to airing. A spokesperson added, “We reported the allegations made by several members of staff at PinkNews and made it clear that Mr Cohen and Dr James denied the allegations but were unable to comment further.”
The documentary revealed further claims, including that some young female employees were allegedly approached to act as surrogates for the couple. It also cited evidence such as official complaints, private messages, and medical records indicating stress and mental health issues attributed to working at PinkNews.
Among those who shared their experiences was Stephan Kyriacou, a former producer, who recalled an incident at a Christmas party where Mr Cohen slapped him on the bottom in front of colleagues. He described the moment as shocking, saying, “I didn’t know what to say. I remember turning to my friends and asking, ‘What the hell just happened?’”
Other staff members spoke of a toxic work environment, with one ex-employee describing their departure from PinkNews as akin to “getting out of an abusive relationship.”
Cohen and James, who married in 2018, recently welcomed a son via surrogacy. In their statement, the pair expressed regret for being “forced” to respond publicly, maintaining that the allegations are “strenuously denied.”
