FASHION: Designer Denies Sexual Harassment

DESIGNER Elie Tahari has denied sexual harassment following accusations by a former employee. A lawsuit - said to be seeking several million dollars for the complainant, Marcy Castelgrande - asserts that the employee was dismissed after reporting the harassment to the company's HR department, but Tahari denies wrongdoing."Elie Tahari Ltd and Elie Tahari both deny the allegations contained in the judicial complaint
filed by Marcy Castelgrande and are prepared to vigorously defend the matter," the company said in a statement to The Cut. "Since this a pending legal matter, we do not have any further comment at this time." "Tahari's recently divorced CEO, Mr Tahari, unlawfully and inappropriately touched Ms Castelgrande in the area of her private parts while she was modelling a skirt before a public crowd of at least ten people," the lawsuit states, Page Six reports, and goes on to claim that the designer told the assembled employees following the incident: "She needs to leave. I can't work with her. She is too sensitive. I've had lawsuits in the past and cannot deal with another one."