Music Publicist Resigns After Sexual Harassment Accusation From Dirty Projectors Member

US-based music publicist Heathcliff Berru has reportedly resigned from his company, Life Or Death PR & Management, following public sexual harassment accusations from Dirty Projectors vocalist/guitarist Amber Coffman.

According to Billboard, the company — whose artist roster includes the likes of Wavves, DIIV, Cloud Nothings, BADBADNOTGOOD, Jagwar Ma, Joey Bada$$ and many more — released a statement asserting that it is taking the allegations "very seriously", and holds a "zero-tolerance policy for the type of conduct" of which Berru had been accused in a stream of tweets sent out from Coffman's account yesterday, in which she alleged that Berru had "rubbed [her] ass and bit [her] hair at a bar a couple years ago".

"The men and women who make up this company do not, and will not, condone or tolerate any conduct described in the online postings," the statement read. "Life Or Death is 3 men and 3 women who are committed to promoting art and serving the clients that we're so privileged to represent.

"We are taking measures to ensure that the alleged behaviour did not, and will not, make its way into company operations or impact our commitment to promoting art and assisting our clients. We are grateful to Heathcliff Berru for all the work he's done to date and his creative vision at the company. We appreciate and support his decision to step down as CEO of Life Or Death."

The situation erupted yesterday when Coffman launched a series of tweets with an explanatory post recounting how she "was just re-telling/re-remembering a story abt how a very popular music publicist RUBBED my ass and BIT my hair at a bar a couple years ago".

"This was someone I barely knew and had just met," she continued. "He did it in front of 4 of my male friends. Still makes me so damn mad thinking about it.

"Still mad at myself as well for not punching him in the nose, but I totally froze up. Weird survival instinct I guess."

Coffman went on to say she was "not afraid" to identify her alleged harasser, going on to name Berru and his company and saying, "I've been told many women have had scary stories about him for years but are scared to speak up. And dudes overlook it and keep hiring him."

"Tired of sketchy ass dudes and sexual predators getting a pass from their 'bros'," she wrote. "Grow a spine and hold your friends accountable."

In the wake of Coffman's tweets, several other people — including Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino — have made similar accusations against Berru.

"Thank you @Amber_Coffman for bravely speaking the truth," a tweet sent from Best Coast's account read. "Heathcliff Berru is a scumbag and I'm glad someone finally spoke up.

"Good for you for doing this. I was too freaked out to ever say anything. Seriously he's not a good person on any level."

Also joining the chorus against Berru were fellow publicist Beth Martinez, who detailed an alleged "similar experience" in which she accuses Berru of "repeatedly put[ting] his hand down [her] shirt" despite her protests, Superfly business development co-ordinator Martika Finch, Ninja Tune project manager Theodora Karatzas, Tearist member Yasmine Kittles and Innovative Leisure Records' Emily Nigro, among others.

Meanwhile, Berru's alleged victims have been lent support from Wavves, who tweeted at Berru several pictures of Donald Trump overlaid with his The Apprentice catchphrase, "You're fired!", former Battles noise-maker Tyondai Braxton, DIIV, Speedy Ortiz guitarist Sadie Dupuis and even actor Elijah Wood, who retweeted several of Coffman's original tweets (though did not add comment of his own). Life Or Death PR has apparently deleted its Facebook page in the wake of the scandal.

See how the situation has played out below.

Was just re-telling/re-remembering a story abt how a very popular music publicist RUBBED my ass and BIT my hair at a bar a couple years ago

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

This was someone I barely knew and had just met. He did it in front of 4 of my male friends. Still makes me so damn mad thinking about it

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

Still mad at myself as well for not punching him in the nose, but I totally froze up. Weird survival instinct I guess

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

Just was looking at their current roster and it's amazing. People I know even. Funny how shitty, fake ass people can have so much success

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

And in case anyone was wondering who the ass rubbing, hair biting mother fucker was, I'm not afraid to say it-

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

It was Heathcliff Berru, at Life or Death PR and MGMT

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

I've been told many women have had scary stories about him for years but are scared to speak up. And dudes overlook it and keep hiring him

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

Tired of sketchy ass dudes and sexual predators getting a pass from their "bros." Grow a spine and hold your friends accountable

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

Can verify this from personal experience https://t.co/otCFQKn8RY

— Beth Martinez. Hero. (@dangervillage) January 19, 2016

.@Amber_Coffman he repeatedly put his hand down my shirt while driving me home after I told him to stop many times

— Beth Martinez. Hero. (@dangervillage) January 19, 2016

@Amber_Coffman also I'm fairly certain I've been roofied by him or members of his crew on more than one occasion

— Beth Martinez. Hero. (@dangervillage) January 19, 2016

Thank you @Amber_Coffman for bravely speaking the truth. Heathcliff Berru is a scumbag and I'm glad someone finally spoke up.

— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016

@Amber_Coffman good for you for doing this. I was too freaked out to ever say anything. Seriously he's not a good person on any level.

— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016

@motormouthmedia @Amber_Coffman I'm so sad to hear so many women have had this experience w/ him but I'm happy it's being brought to light

— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016

I do want to say that when this first happened, I told Domino records, who were working on projects with him + they stopped working with him

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

They told me they've held their commitment of not working with him ever since, and I really appreciate that gesture. More should follow suit

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016

dude this is real...had to tell him to fuck off and leave me alone at bonnaroo a couple years ago @Amber_Coffman https://t.co/6h2wTlLxB4

— Martika Finch (@mAAAtika) January 19, 2016

I don't have a lot to say on @Amber_Coffman's story right now except that her story is my story and I am sorry I didn't speak up sooner.

— Theodora Karatzas (@theokaratzas) January 19, 2016

@dangervillage @Amber_Coffman Had an experience or two where he was uncomfortably aggressive in ways I thankfully don't usually experience

— Shirley Braha (@shirleybraha) January 19, 2016

@Amber_Coffman this same night he roofied at least 2 other girls. he never touched me but i heard it all verbally. his crew is this best tho

— faithy wap (@faithsilva) January 19, 2016

Thank you @Amber_Coffman in 2009 he grabbed my ass and then held me down onto my couch as he unzipped his pants &forced my hand on his dick.

— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016

.@Amber_Coffman I told our "manager" at the time who said "we are going to have to get over that arent we" if I cared about my band.

— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016

So thank you @Amber_Coffman For having the courage that I didn't have in 2009. We have to speak out or it will happen to others.

— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016

@amber_coffman's encounter with heathcliff is very similar to my own. kept harassment to myself because you're taught to blow it off

— emily nigro (@emilynigro) January 19, 2016

Proud & Support my friend @Amber_Coffman thank you for your bravery.

— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) January 19, 2016

. @HeathcliffB @LifeorDeathPR pic.twitter.com/1G0km0Liw6

— WAVVES (@wavves) January 19, 2016

Just wanna say I stand with all the women who are courageously speaking out. I am no longer a client of @LifeorDeathPR/heathcliff

— Kelela (@kelelam) January 20, 2016

we're thankful to the folks at life or death we worked w directly (not heathcliff). but after hearing these stories we're no longer w/ LoD

— sadie dupuis (@sad13) January 19, 2016

DIIV will no longer be working with Life or Death PR.

— DIIV (@DIIV) January 19, 2016

@Amber_Coffman much love Amber - got yr back 4life

— Tyondai Braxton (@Tyondai) January 20, 2016