Music industry veteran L.A. Reid is set to appear in court next week as a New York jury hears sexual assault allegations brought by former Arista Records executive Drew Dixon.
A source familiar with the case confirmed that John Legend is expected to testify during the proceedings.
Dixon alleges that Reid assaulted her on two occasions in 2001, when she was serving as vice president of A&R at Arista and Reid was leading the label. She has said the encounters took place while she was trying to advance her career in an industry dominated by powerful men.
In interviews over the years, Dixon has claimed that refusing Reid’s advances led to professional repercussions. She has alleged that her trajectory in the music business was derailed and that opportunities she helped develop were later blocked. Reid has denied all accusations.
Dixon previously worked closely with artists such as Whitney Houston and Santana and has said the period following her time at Arista marked a turning point in her career. “What happened to me didn’t just stay in that moment,” she has said in past statements. “It followed me.”
Dixon has also accused Russell Simmons of rape, which he has denied, and has advocated for legislative change.