Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Monday, January 1, 2018

Head of New York City Ballet retires after abuse allegations: report


by Biodun Iginla, France24 Entertainment reporter, New York


    © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File | Peter Martins (C) stands accused by two dozen dancers of verbal and physical abuse as well as using his power to extort sexual favors

    NEW YORK - 
    Peter Martins, the renowned head of the New York City Ballet, announced his retirement Monday following allegations of sexual harassment and physical abuse, according to a report in the New York Times.
    The 71-year-old stands accused by two dozen dancers of verbal and physical abuse as well as using his power to extort sexual favors.
    "I have denied, and continue to deny, that I have engaged in any such misconduct," he wrote in a letter to the board informing them of his retirement, a copy of which was seen by the Times.
    "We thank Peter for his tremendous contributions to New York City Ballet as ballet master in chief for over three decades, leading the Company to exceptional artistic heights and accomplishments," board chairman Charles W. Scharf said in a separate statement also obtained by the Times.
    Martins, who is Danish, had been under investigation since an anonymous letter detailing several allegations. A group of dancers later came forward to the Times with further allegations dating back to 1983.
    A former principal dancer, Martins became a co-leader of the company in 1983 and sole ballet master in chief in 1989.
    It was the latest in a wave of misconduct allegations prompted by investigative reports by the Times and the New Yorker into Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who was accused by more than a hundred women of allegations ranging from rape to harassment.
    The outpouring has claimed the careers of powerful men in entertainment, politics, and journalism.
    High culture has not been immune. The New York Metropolitan Opera's James Levine, who had been its director for 40 years, was removed in December following abuse allegations.
    The Montreal Symphony Orchestra likewise removed long-time conductor Charles Dutoit following a complaint by a female musician.

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    BREAKING: South Korea proposes high-level talks with North on Olympics


    January 2. 2017  06H:26  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
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    Breaking News image
    by Xian Wan and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Seoul
    South Korean has offered high level talks with North Korea on 9 January to discuss its possible participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
    It comes after the North's leader Kim Jong-un said he was considering sending a team to Pyeongchang in South Korea for the Games in February.
    He said the two sides should "urgently meet to discuss the possibility".
    South Korea's president said earlier he saw the offer as a chance to improve the highly tense relationship.
    Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Moon Jae-in said he had already proposed making the Olympic Games a " groundbreaking chance" to move towards peace.
    He said the relevant ministries should "swiftly come up with follow-up measures to quickly restore South-North Korean dialogue" and ensure a delegation from the North could attend the Games.
    But he said co-operation with the South's international allies on halting North Korea's controversial nuclear and ballistic weapon development would continue.
    The South Korean government has proposed the talks could take place on 9 January.
    Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-SikImage copyrightREUTERS
    Image captionNorth Korean figure skaters could yet be competing in Pyeongchang
    In his speech on Monday, the North Korean leader repeated his threats against the US. He said the entire country was within range of North Korean weapons and the nuclear button was "always on my table".
    However, he offered a potential olive branch to South Korea, saying the frozen relationship "should melt".
    "The year 2018 is a significant year for both the North and the South, with the North marking the 70th anniversary of its birth and the South hosting the Winter Olympics.
    "We should melt the frozen North-South relations, thus adorning this meaningful year as a year to be specially recorded in the history of the nation," he said.

    'New Year's gift'

    The president of the Pyeongchang Games' organising committee, Lee Hee-beom, earlier told South Korea's news agency Yonhap he was delighted to hear of the potential participation.
    "It's like a New Year's gift," he said.
    The only two North Korean athletes who qualified for the Games are figure skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik.
    Although the North has missed the official deadline to confirm their participation, the skaters could still compete with an invitation by the International Olympic Committee.

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