Commons inquiry to expose abuse in pop world
A FORMER assistant of Harvey Weinstein who broke a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to help expose the film producer as a rapist has called for the music industry to stop silencing victims of sexual predators.
Zelda Perkins was speaking as a parliamentary investigation into sexual abuse and harassment in music is set to look into the use of the secretive agreements. Pop stars, agents and music industry executives will face scrutiny by a powerful committee of MPs, amid growing unease about the use of NDAs.
An inquiry by the women and equalities select committee into misogyny in music is now looking specifically into how and why NDAs are used, with those who have signed them urged to come forward and give evidence, without fear of legal reprisal. The call for evidence was hailed a “watershed moment”.
Zelda Perkins, who heads the UK’s Can’t Buy My Silence campaign to ban the misuse of NDAs, said: “This is long overdue and a watershed moment for an industry which we know has an extraordinary prevalence of NDAs.”
Miss Perkins, who broke her NDA with Weinstein to reveal his sexual and financial abuse of numerous women, added: “The issue of NDAs being abused is endemic throughout all sectors of industry.
“Legal agreements designed to protect intellectual copyright have been weaponised. We need the Government to act to change that.”
The committee is expected to hear evidence from musicians who have been abused by record label managers, and also allegations of exploitation by pop stars and agents, all of which has been hushed up by NDAs.
Women who have experienced gender-based discrimination, harassment or abuse related to the music industry and have signed NDAs are being invited to give written evidence before Nov 20, under parliamentary privilege. Any attempt to silence them could be treated as contempt of Parliament.
In its call for evidence, the committee said: “MPs have been told that the use of NDAs in the industry is widespread, but examples of their use are lacking, as the nature of these agreements would usually prevent those involved coming forward and sharing details.”
One woman who has signed an NDA in the music industry told Telegraph: “NDAs are the tool of choice for pop stars and their management, for
Women who signed nondisclosure agreements can give evidence under parliamentary privilege
making all the things they’d rather the adoring public did not know about just disappear.
“You’ve only got to consider the whims of some celebrities, the craven attitude of agents towards fame, and the fact that solicitors have skin in the game with these NDAs to see how the situation arises. This has to change.”
The committee is calling for evidence on the motivations for creating and signing an NDA, as well as the circumstances of individual NDAs and the roles of those involved, including employment status.
MPs want to know whether efforts have been made to report inappropriate behaviour before an NDA was reached and whether such NDAs have been used in cases where the behaviour involved might be criminal.