More Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Nashville Publicist

Kirt Webster

Three former employees and an intern who worked for prominent country music industry executive Kirt Webster have stepped forward with additional claims of sexual harassment or abuse while serving at his public relations firm in Naashville.

That brings to 17 the number of individuals at Webster PR who have recounted to The Tennessean a toxic mix of workplace abuse and sexual harassment at one of Nashville's preeminent public relations firms, where many industry hopefuls took jobs to advance music careers only to be fired or quit a short time later.

A female former bookkeeper and office manager, who also was responsible for human resources, said the company entered into settlements with some individuals.

“I’ve sat in meetings where people were paid off to be quiet and we signed non-disclosures to never speak about the stuff that they had done to them,” she said. “There are people that did speak up, did come forward and they were paid off and they went away.”

Two additional former employees and an intern also stepped forward:

• A male junior publicist who alleged Webster asked him twice in 2012 if he would be willing to perform oral sex on Webster to keep his job. The man, who was 24 at the time, said he was fired  a week after he awkwardly laughed off the questions and returned to work. 
• A male employee who described numerous incidents of sexual harassment while working for Webster in 2016. On at least five occasions, the man, now 28, said Webster asked him to sleep with Webster and another man. 
• A female former summer intern in 2017 who described harassment, including frequent sexual comments and gestures.  

The four people cited a fear of Webster's influence and being shunned by the music industry in their request for anonymity. The Tennessean independently confirmed their employment at the firm.

Webster, 43, abruptly stepped down from his public relations firm on Wednesday amid a growing number of sexual harassment and abuse claims. The firm is one of the most powerful in Nashville's country music scene, with a roster of high profile clients, which included Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Kid Rock.

Many of those clients, including Kid Rock, have now parted ways with Webster. Parton said Thursday that she hoped the allegations were untrue.

The first allegation emerged last week with a Facebook post from former aspiring country music singer Austin C. Rick, who claimed Webster drugged and sexually assaulted him at an Easter party in 2008.