Earlier this week, a group called Black Female Anonymous wrote a scathing critique of the alleged working conditions in Essence magazine, and demanded that four top executives resign.
On Tuesday, one of the executives they named, Richelieu Dennis, resigned as CEO.
In their essay, published on Medium, the women claimed that Dennis had a “shallow commitment to black women,” but was actually “fueled by greed and libertine sexual appetite.”
They also alleged that “he has a history of sleeping with women on Sundial staff. [the beauty brand that produces SheaMoisture, and which he sold to Unilever in 2017] … For women who apparently don’t consent, he openly sexually harasses them at private company events. “
Initially, the company denied the allegations, calling them “unfounded attempts to discredit our brand and murder personal character.”
But on Tuesday night, they sent out a press release announcing a new interim CEO, Caroline Wanga, saying it was one of several steps to “ensure Essence is the safe haven we all hope for.”
The move came after an emergency call with staff earlier in the day, in which we were told Dennis was appalled that no one had come to see if he was okay.
“It was a heated conversation. Employees were angry at the opening statement [accusing the anonymous posters] lying, “said a source. “They were even more furious with him for asking why no one checked on him.”
We are told that Dennis’ role as CEO was always temporary; he had just taken office in March, after Michelle Ebanks resigned and moved to the Essence Ventures board, where Dennis will continue to serve as president.
The anonymous collective also asked him to leave the company, as well as the resignations of COO Joy Collins Profet and content director Moana Luu.
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