Just as Shaun White was set to compete in the men’s halfpipe event at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics this week, Sexual Harassment claims against the American snowboarder once again came to light. Most of the information in this article comes from reports by Variety and Dead Spin.

The accusations filed in an August 2016 lawsuit, come from a former drummer in White’s rock band Bad Thing's. Lena Zawaideh claims that she was “repeatedly sexually harassed” by White, who she says, “forced his authoritarian management style on her for over seven years.”

Original suit filed without sexual harassment allegations

The suit states that Zawaideh received “sexually explicit and graphic images of engorged and erect penises” from White.

It also alleges that White “made vulgar sexual remarks to Zawaideh and forced her to watch sexually disturbing videos."

She has also sued White for wage nonpayment, wrongful termination, and other labor code violations. According to an article by USA Today Sport, the original lawsuit, which was filed in May 2016, was for breach of contract due to lack of payment. However, since Zawaideh changed lawyers they made a later filing with an amended complaint adding the sexual harassment accusations.

White calls the allegations 'gossip'

After making history by winning his third Olympic gold medal, White conducted a press conference, where he refused to answer questions about the allegations against him when asked and dismissed the suit as “gossip.

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The 31-year-old snowboarder has admitted to sending the message to Zawaideh but immediately denied her accusations. According to Slate, White even requested that Zawaideh is compelled by the San Diego Superior Court to undergo a mental health evaluation. However, the suit was reportedly settled out of court.

During the press conference, both White and his manager told reporters who asked about the lawsuit that he was there to talk about his gold medal.

When asked about the possibility of the suit tarnishing his legacy, White said that he doesn’t think it will. He stated that he is proud of who he is, adding, “My friends, you know, love me and vouch for me. I believe that stands for itself.” White later apologized on NBC’s Today show for using the word gossip saying it was “a poor choice of words to describe a sensitive issue.”

Are Hollywood men using position for sexual harassment?

The claims against White come amid a wave of sexual assault and harassment against powerful men in the media, entertainment, and other industries.

White became the first snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals after taking gold in the men’s halfpipe event on Wednesday (Feb. 14) in South Korea.

The suit stated that White used his position to make unreasonable and inappropriate demands of Zawaideh, including dictating that she abstains from wearing her signature red lipstick, wear sexually revealing clothes and underwear, and that she cut her hair.
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