Former HBO chairman is SUSPENDED as president of Legendary Television as book claims he disparaged ex-executive VP he choked and had affair with
- Chris Albrecht, 70, has been placed on administrative leave from Legendary Television
- His suspension comes a month before a new book will hit the shelves with new details about his ‘vile’ behavior towards a former HBO staffer
- The ex-HBO chairman allegedly choked Sasha Emerson in her office in 1991, shortly after the broke off their consensual affair
- Emerson left the company after the assault and was awarded a settlement by the broadcasting giant
- He denies the previous claims, and has hit out at the book which claims he also disparaged Emerson to other members of staff after she left
Chris Albrecht has been suspended from Legendary Television ahead of a bombshell book claiming he choked and ‘disparaged’ a staffer after breaking off their affair.
The ex-HBO chairman is accused of being ‘vile’ towards staffer Sasha Emerson, a former executive VP at HBO, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Emerson left the company over an allegation that he attacked her in her office in 1991, after they ended their consensual affair months before.
Albrecht, 70, allegedly left the broadcasting giant after a settlement was brokered by HBO for Emerson, but a representative has denied the allegations.
His attempt to choke Emerson has been previously reported, but the bombshell book will reveal new details about his behavior after the incident.
A spokesman for Legendary Television confirmed that Albrecht, president of the company, has been placed on a leave of absence ahead of the book being published.
Albrecht, 70, allegedly left the broadcasting giant after a settlement was brokered by HBO for Emerson, but a representative has denied the allegations
His attempt to choke Emerson has been previously reported, but the bombshell book – It’s Not TV – will reveal new details about his behavior after the incident
It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO by Felix Gillette and John Koblin, is set to go on sale on November 1.
The authors of the book are understood to expand on a previously reported claim that Albrecht choked Emerson.
Emerson, a rising star within the network, spoke to a friend about the alleged attack, as well as HBO’s Michael Fuchs.
She never filed a police report, but took a settlement and left the network according to the new book.
Previously the settlement was not revealed to the HBO board and her departure was not explained internally.
Albrecht at the time was in charge of originals and was working with Emerson on HBO Independent Productions.
The new bombshell book revealed that he would disparage her in meetings with TV writers and producers following her exit, with fellow staff dubbing it as ‘vile’.
One writer told the authors that HBO rewrote the narrative over Emerson’s departure, claiming there was a ‘campaign to blacken her out’.
Emerson, a rising star within the network, spoke to a friend about the alleged attack, as well as HBO’s Michael Fuchs
The added that there was an attempt to paint her as a ‘chaotic, problematic person’ as she ‘took a very unfair settlement’.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 2007 that she received at least $400,000.
Speaking to the authors of the book, Emerson said that she still can’t bear to feel anything constricting her throaty, including the strap of a bike helmet.
Albrecht’s representative denied the allegations, and ‘rejects and disagrees with the characterization of what office’ in Emerson office.
They added: ‘After more than 30 years an old, flawed story is now being refurbished and recycled for the sake of sales.
‘I have sincerely apologized to those whom I offended with disrespect and utterly unacceptable behavior.
‘But that doesn’t sell books or generate media attention. Some things do indeed age well; but bad reporting does not.’
It’s Not TV also covers Albrecht’s public arrest after police saw him choking his then-girlfriend Karla Jensen in Las Vegas, which prompted him to resign from HBO.
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