Extra co-host A.J. Calloway has been suspended after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, Warner Bros. Television announced Saturday.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Calloway’s suspension, and said it is “preparing a new story with additional allegations.”
The initial complaint against Calloway surfaced in June 2018, when domestic-violence activist Sil Lai Abrams went public in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, alleging that he sexually assaulted her in 2006. Calloway was arrested shortly after the alleged assault, but the case was ultimately dismissed.
Abrams first shared details of the alleged assault in her 2007 memoir, No More Drama: Nine Simple Steps to Transforming a Breakdown into a Breakthrough, although she not disclose Calloway’s name.
She accused the television host and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons of assault, but used pseudonyms for both men. In June, Abrams revealed the men’s names in a #MeToo article.
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In a statement Saturday, Warner Bros. Television — which produces Extra — said it had launched an investigation. Although it didn’t specify when.
“Upon becoming aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against A.J. Calloway, we began an internal review to determine whether there had been any misconduct by Mr. Calloway on ‘Extra’ and whether any employee of the show had been the victim of any such misconduct,” Warner Bros. said in a statement. “To date, we have found nothing to suggest that Mr. Calloway has ever engaged in workplace misconduct.”
The statement continued, “In light of additional allegations brought to our attention, we are expanding our ongoing inquiries, and Mr. Calloway has been suspended pending further review. We take such allegations very seriously and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure a safe and inclusive workplace for all of our employees.”
Since June, Calloway has insisted he is innocent.
Last month, two more women came forward in an article published by The Daily Beast, to allege he forced himself on them in separate incidents. One said she reported her claim to the West Orange Police Department in New Jersey on Dec. 24.
Another woman said she connected with Calloway on social media and they eventually went out for dinner. She said they returned to his home with a group of people, and Calloway allegedly attacked her.
“I just remember trying to push him off of me, and this went on for 40 minutes straight,” she said. “Me attempting to push him off of me and fighting to keep him from taking my clothes off. Eventually he got tired, and I think it’s because he was so intoxicated—it was wearing him out.”
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Calloway has now been placed on suspension, effective immediately.
However, his lawyer Lisa E. Davis released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday saying the allegations against her client are “patently false.”
“Mr. Calloway maintains that these unsubstantiated allegations are patently false. He vehemently denies that he ever assaulted anyone and looks forward to clearing his name,” Davis said.
Calloway, a longtime entertainment journalist, hosted BET’s 106 & Park before joining Extra.
