Harvey Weinstein isn't the only sexual predator being ousted from his position. In a similar fashion, "Honest Trailers" creator Andy Signore has been terminated from his job at Defy Media and Screen Junkies as Senior VP for Content. In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, both companies have "terminated Andy Signore's employment, effective immediately." The statement read that "There is simply no justification for this egregious and intolerable behavior." This stems from HR allegations made against Signore, which claimed that he sexually harassed or abused at least two women.
These two women came forward on social media and were revealed to be Emma Bowers, who was an intern in 2010, and April Dawn, a fan who appeared in a segment in 2015.
Andy Signore accused of sexual harassment
Emma Bowers, one of Andy Signore's victims, recounted her experience in which he made comments about masturbating regarding photographs of her. She recalled that Signore even asked her to visit him so he could perform the act in person. April Dawn, who was a fan of Screen Junkies' "Honest Trailers," met Signore during the Chicago Comic Con in 2015. Later, she was invited to do a segment with Signore. She admitted that Signore attempted to sexually assault her multiple times, and even threatened to fire her boyfriend Josh Tapia, who also worked at Screen Junkies.
Defy Media launched an investigation
Defy Media launched an investigation into the allegations against Andy Signore and he was suspended on Friday. Just two days later, Defy Media and Screen Junkies terminated his contract. According to Variety, Emma Bowers and April Dawn aren't the only victims of this sexual predator. At least 20 other women have reportedly contacted Dawn to share similar stories of sexual harassment at the hands of Signore.
Defy Media is committed to address these pressing matters and ensure that "going forward, our community is free of harassment or discrimination of any kind." In the statement, they also encouraged people who have been victims of such sexual behavior to come forward.
'Honest Trailers' to continue without Andy Signore?
For now, it's unclear whether Defy Media will continue with the "Honest Trailers" series. Andy Signore founded the series along with the Screen Junkies site back in 2012, while he was working at Break Media. A year later, the company merged with Alloy Digital and became Defy Media.
