cmp
DECEMBER 2017 Volume 48 Number 12 Issue 574
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan , Janet Aspley , Donnie Ayers , Craig Baguley , Larry Delaney , Don Cusic , Julie Flaskett , Kelly Gregory , Michael Hingston , Tony Ives , Spencer Leigh , John Lomax III , , Douglas McPherson , Stephen O ’ Hanlon , Roland Purdy , Adrian Peel , Paul Riley , Wayne Smart , Chris Smith , Alison Stokes , Tom Travis , Walt Trott , Jack Watkins
Assistant editor / Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Helen Parish , Patricia Presley , Ian Tilbury , Barry Dixon , Billie McAleer
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News
Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London
Top Nashville
The growing awareness of sexual misconduct in our society , following alleged abuses by Donald Trump , Bill Cosby , Roger Ailes and more recently Bill O ’ Reilly , Harvey Weinstein , Kevin Spacey , Louis C . K ., James Toback and Dustin Hoffman , has spread to the country music community . In a rippling effect , Nashville publicist Kirt Webster , 43 ( above ), has been accused of sexual abuse and creating a hostile work environment at his public relations firm .
Prior to The Tennessean daily newspaper ’ s Nov . 2 page one headline , Webster Public Relations represented such celebrated clients as Dolly Parton , Kenny Rogers , Brenda Lee and the Oak Ridge Boys . Although on Nov . 1 , we noted with curiosity that Kirt ’ s former chief publicist Scott Adkins dispatched he had opened his own agency , joined by some of Webster ’ s top clients , which alerted us something was amiss . In the weekly tabloid Nashville Scene , editor Steve Cavendish claimed ex-country singer Rick Cody Austin accuses Webster of serious “ sexual misconduct .”
Reportedly , the Maryland native was attempting to launch a career and Brett Beavers , a Nashville producer he ’ d engaged , introduced him to Kirt , who expressed interest in promoting him as an artist . The singer laments he soon found himself “ trapped in a hell-hole ” he couldn ’ t escape . Cavendish wrote he was 18 , but actually Rick was a bit older by the time the two met , recalling : “ I trusted him completely , and he wanted to make me a star , just long enough to sexually molest and abuse me . And I remember one time he told me , ‘ I want there to be fireworks in your career , but only if there ’ s fireworks between us .’ And that was like pretty early on in our relationship .”
Webster ’ s spokesperson denied the singer ’ s accusation : “ As a single adult , Mr . Webster has had multiple relationships over the course of his professional life , all of which have been consensual . This includes a brief relationship with Mr . Rick . It saddens Mr . Webster that nine years later , after Mr . Rick ’ s music career has been stagnant , Mr . Rick has taken the opportunistic approach of mischaracterizing that relationship and posting untrue allegations .”
Although Rick denies any “ relationship ,” he pinpoints several separate occasions that his publicist supposedly made moves on him , including having him strip down to show his fitness for posing in Playgirl magazine ( which by then boasted mostly gay subscribers ); then during an Easter 2008 party at Kirt ’ s house , his host allegedly fondled him in a hot tub ; and when he allegedly had been drugged , awoke in Kirt ’ s bed , to discover him “ hugging me , kissing me all over my face and mouth , and neck and lips ... I know I was sexually assaulted . I don ’ t know if I was raped .”
The Tennessean devoted ample space to Kirt ’ s reported misconduct , prompting further allegations by 17 former employees who refused to let their names be published , but allegedly cited incidents of their boss showing pornographic pictures , plus inappropriate touching and verbal abuse . Meantime , Kirt ’ s client roster dwindled down fast as the week wore on with daily media reports .
Initially , as the news broke , Webster withdrew from his firm , putting trusted assistant Jeremy Westby in charge and suggesting a name change to Westby P . R ., while he focused on “ combatting the egregious and untrue allegations made against him .” Following negative response on this potential arrangement , Westby changed course and now says he left the agency to start his own PR firm a la Scott Adkins . Reportedly , Jeremy had been more than Webster ’ s employee , but chose instead to go it alone , texting : “ Fresh start , new firm .”
In the intervening years since parting ways with Webster PR , Rick left town , joined the Army - but then discharged due to a knee injury - and finally graduated from the University
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