Suspended record exec Charlie Walk won't be in 'Four' finale

Bill Keveney | USA TODAY

After being suspended from his music industry job, Republic Records chief Charlie Walk issued a statement late Wednesday saying he will not participate in the finale of Fox's The Four: Battle for Stardom.

Earlier in the day, Republic Records placed Walk on leave during an independent investigation that began after a former employee accused him of sexual harassment Monday. Walk has denied the allegation.

In a statement released by his attorney, Patricia Glaser, the recording executive and The Four panelist said: "Out of respect for the contestants, my fellow judges and everyone involved with the show, I have made the decision not to attend the finale of The Four. I do not want my presence to be a distraction. Needless to say this is very upsetting."

More: Music exec, 'The Four' panelist Charlie Walk accused of sexual harassment

He said he welcomed an investigation: "Although I continue to support the Me Too movement, there has been an extreme rush to judgment against me in this particular case which is unfair and inconsistent with anything that even actually happened. I welcome any investigation so that in short order these unfounded and hurtful accusations can be put to rest.”

Walk will appear in the pre-taped fifth episode of The Four, which is scheduled to run Thursday. Only the finale of the six-episode Fox singing competition remains to be taped.

The winner is supposed to get a Republic Records contract and career guidance from the show's experts, who include Walk, Sean "Diddy" Combs, DJ Khaled and Meghan Trainor.

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Walk came under scrutiny after Tristan Coopersmith, who worked for him at another music company, published an open letter on her website blog Monday. She accused the recording executive of making frequent sexual and vulgar remarks, putting his hand on her thigh at dinners and, on one occasion, pushing her into his bedroom and onto his bed.

Universal Music Group, which includes Republic among its labels, issued a statement Wednesday saying Walk has been placed on leave.

The statement reads: "Republic Records is committed to a safe workplace environment where employees are treated fairly and respectfully. We have retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation of this matter and have encouraged anyone who has relevant information to speak to the firm’s investigators. Mr. Walk has been placed on leave, and will remain (on) leave for the duration of the investigation.”