National Enquirer Editor Accused of Misconduct

The AP talks to former employees of Dylan Howard
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 5, 2017 4:15 PM CST
National Enquirer Editor Accused of Misconduct
A file photo of 4 New York Plaza, where American Media Inc. has its headquarters in New York City.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

An editor who specializes in the scandal of others is experiencing it from the opposite end of the spectrum. The top editor for the National Enquirer, Us Weekly, and other major gossip publications openly described his sexual partners in the newsroom, discussed female employees' sex lives, and forced women to watch or listen to pornographic material, former employees tell the AP. The behavior by Dylan Howard, currently the chief content officer of American Media Inc., occurred while he was running the company's Los Angeles office, according to men and women who worked there. Howard's self-proclaimed nickname was "Dildo," the former employees said. His conduct led to an internal inquiry in 2012 by an outside consultant, and former employees said he stopped working out of the LA office after the inquiry.

Howard quit soon after the report was completed, but the company rehired him one year later with a promotion that landed him in the company's main office in New York. It was not clear whether Howard faced any discipline over the accusations. The AP is not aware of any sexual harassment allegations involving Howard since he was rehired. The AP spoke with 12 former employees who knew about the investigation into Howard's behavior. In a brief phone interview with the AP, Howard characterized the ex-employees' claims as "baseless." A lawyer for American Media confirmed that an outside investigator was hired to look into two employees' claims about Howard's behavior, but the lawyer said the investigation did not show serious wrongdoing. American Media publishes the Enquirer, RadarOnline, Star, and other gossip publications and websites.

(More sexual misconduct stories.)

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