Amazon Studios head Roy Price resigns amid sexual harassment accusation
Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios since its founding, resigned Tuesday according to several media reports -- less than a week after his alleged sexual harassment of a female producer resurfaced in the press.
Isa Hackett said the incident occurred back in 2015, at a Comic Con Amazon party after their panel for Man on the High Castle. According to Hackett, Price repeatedly made lewd remarks toward her -- some in front of other Amazon executives. Among other inappropriate advances, Price allegedly told Hackett that, "You will love my dick."
She reported the incident to Amazon almost immediately. While the company says it launched an investigation, Hackett heard nothing more about its development.
The incident was originally reported months ago by The Information, but resurfaced in The Hollywood Reporter last week with further details and Hackett on the record. Amazon announced then that Price was put on an indefinite leave of absence.
During that time, Amazon COO Albert Cheng had taken over Price's position. Amazon has not responded to our requests for comment.
In the immediate wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations, Amazon also stated that it was reconsidering its $160 million funding deal with The Weinstein Co. for two new original properties under development. The untitled David O. Russell project and The Romanoffs TV show are both still under review.
Price, a development and programming VP at Disney from 1999 to 2000, joined Amazon in 2004, where he created its first digital video store to stream library titles. He was tapped to launch Amazon Studios in 2010, using a unique model to create pilots that were voted on by Prime members.
That method failed to create any bona fide hits -- he had infamously passed on The Handmaid's Tale -- with the possible exception of the multiple Emmy-winning Transparent. Even before the harassment allegations, reports questioning his stewardship of the studio were beginning to surface.
Topics Amazon
Jess is an LA-based culture critic who covers intimacy in the digital age, from sex and relationship to weed and all media (tv, games, film, the web). Previously associate editor at Kill Screen, you can also find her words on Vice, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Vox, and others. She is a Brazilian-Swiss American immigrant with a love for all things weird and magical.
