TV judge: I’m not a sex pest
THE Greatest Dancer’s newest star was forced on to the back foot before the TV show even started.
American entertainer Todrick Hall, the talent show’s new dance captain, has had to deny claims he sexually harassed one of his staff members in the States.
Little known in the UK, the 34-year-old is a huge name in America, where he rose to fame in American Idol.
He joined fellow captains Cheryl Tweedy, Oti Mabuse and Matthew Morrison on the show, which returned last night for a second series.
In 2018 the singer songwriter faced claims of sexual harassment and failure to pay by someone he used to work with. Stephen Land, who worked on Hall’s Straight Outta Oz tour, claimed in court papers Hall acted inappropriately with “unwelcome touching”.
He had to travel on a different tour bus because it got so bad, he alleged in the documents.
Land also accused Todrick o failure to pay agreed wages, and breach of contract during the hearing at California District Court in 2018. The matter was settled out of court and dismissed.
But Todrick faced further accusations just weeks before his The Greatest Dancer telly debut.
Former personal assistant Tommy Mckissock took to social media in
October making similar claims – alleging bullying, harassment and nonpayment of staff. He tweeted: “I was Todrick Hall’s personal assistant for years and I know every detail of his life.”
Responding to the claims in Attitude magazine in an interview this week, Todrick said: “My shows are still sold out, my fans have stood beside me, and they know my heart and integrity, and they know what type of person I am.
“They know that I would never intentionally do some of these things, any of these things that are being said about me. [I will] be more careful about who I allow into my circle.
“My show is full of love and I focus on that every night… when some kid comes and tells me that because of my music and my message they didn’t take their own life, that they are now wearing heels at school, and they are winning prom queens.”
He added: “I’ll sleep with one eye open, but what I’m not going to stop doing is inspiring kids.”
Todrick rose to fame after reaching the semi-finals on season nine of American Idol and becoming a Youtuber, touring artist and regular on popular Rupaul’s Drag Race.
He also played Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago on Broadway. And he is pals with superstar singer Taylor Swift and last year appeared in her You Need to Calm Down music video. A BBC spokesman declined to comment.