The sexual misconduct allegations rocking L.A.’s largest LGBTQ theater company

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A prominent figure in L.A.’s theater scene, Michael A. Shepperd has been an outspoken advocate for social justice. But in interviews with The Times, two men present a different portrait of him, accusing Shepperd of sexual misconduct. He denies the claims

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In the email and in a follow-up phone call, Diego said, he asked that his comments remain confidential. But Diego said Shepperd confronted him and said he knew the younger actor had spoken to management about Shepperd’s behavior. Shepperd isolated himself in his dressing room and avoided speaking with others, Diego said.Shepperd denied confronting Diego and told The Times he never was told who had filed the complaint.“I was just told that what I was doing had to stop,” Shepperd said.

“We had characters that were super flirty, super fun and naughty bawdy, and sometimes that naughty bawdy fun-ness from both of us would carry off onstage and go backstage,” Shepperd said.Shepperd cited Facebook messages, reviewed by The Times, in which Diego said he enjoyed performing with Shepperd and was looking forward to the final two shows of the production.

“I was still paralyzed by this fear of, ‘I don’t want to rock this boat. I don’t want to be on his bad side. He’s this titan in the industry.’”Diego said he was proudly sex positive but disagreed with Shepperd’s assessment of what that meant. “That is not a calling card or a permission slip to whoever I am in a space with to capitalize on ... without having a discussion about consent or my boundaries.

Carryl, who recused herself from the Celebration investigation and board vote on Shepperd’s firing, wrote that she was “uncomfortable” with various aspects of Diego’s account.

 

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The men also allege Celebration, L.A.’s largest LGBTQ theater, mishandled complaints about Shepperd’s behavior and ultimately chose to keep him in his leadership position until this week — when the theater fired him after an internal investigation

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