Among others from Universal Music Publishing Group, Adam Levine was called out in a recent lawsuit for using drugs in the company’s Santa Monica location.
The hostile work environment lawsuit, which was filed on April 9 in Los Angeles County by a former security guard at UMPG, involves claims that the offices were “infiltrated with pervasive drug use where you could smell marijuana seeping from various offices and openly used in common areas, and lounges.”
No word on whether the 41-year-old plaintiff complained about the entire state of California, where marijuana use is widespread and generally accepted. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of the state, told The New York Times he appreciates the pot culture, which he helped to create by signing a law to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
In the lawsuit, the former employee said she expressed concerns about the situation. However, her comments were swiftly disregarded.
In one instance described in the lawsuit, which was obtained by Hollywood Reporter, a UMPG executive told her that high-profile musicians can do as they please.
“It’s Adam Levine. You know from Maroon 5,” the executive said. “If he wants to come to the lobby and do a line of cocaine on the floor, it’s OK.”
She said that the drug use wasn’t limited to closed studio rooms — she was even offered illegal substances.
In addition to Adam Levine, the plaintiff also implied Macy Gray, MC Ren, Jamie Foxx, T.I. and Future used drugs while working at the UMPG office.
The alleged drug use is just one part of the lawsuit. In the rest of it, the plaintiff tries to make the case that she was wrongfully terminated and deserves protection under California’s “whistle blower” statute.
