It was supposed to be a professional conversation between an editor at Billboard, America’s oldest, most totemic music publication, and an emerging queer artist.

When Nik Thakkar, whose stage name is NEO 10Y, contacted Patrick Crowley — who as senior director of Billboard Pride was in charge of all LGBT content at the title — it was to find out when the outlet would publish an interview he had given about his new song. But that is not where the conversation led.

In an interview with BuzzFeed News, Thakkar detailed what happened as Crowley drove the ensuing discussion, steering it around various bends to its conclusion, when he asked Thakkar to send him and a co-worker nude photographs of himself. The musician did not comply with the request, and was later told that he had been removed from a Billboard playlist.

Thakkar also supplied the entire conversation to BuzzFeed News, which took place via Instagram direct messages. It is clear to Thakkar what it constituted: “It’s sexual harassment,” he said.

Crowley did not respond when approached for a response to the allegations, but a spokesperson for Billboard said the company has investigated the “very serious allegations” and “determined there had been violations of the company’s ethical and professional standards.” The spokesperson added, "As a result, we have terminated Patrick Crowley’s employment, effective immediately". And in a statement, the company also expressed "regret" for Crowley's "unprofessional behaviour".