UC Regent Apologizes For Sexually Inappropriate Remarks To Former Employee
LOS ANGELES (CBS SF/AP) — A University of California regent has apologized to a former employee for asking to hold her breasts while she taped a bra commercial.
The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Regent Norman J. Pattiz said he "deeply regrets" the comments and won't repeat such behavior.
The 73-year-old Pattiz is chairman of the Courtside Entertainment Group, which produces radio shows and podcasts on the PodcastOne network. He was also the founder of the original Westwood One radio network.
Among the shows on the PodcastOne network was "Juicy Scoop," hosted by comedian Heather McDonald. She aired Pattiz's comments on her podcast last week.
McDonald had been taping a commercial for a memory-foam bra in May when Pattiz entered the room.
After flubbing her lines, Pattiz said, "Can I hold your breasts? Would that help?" and showed his hands, saying, "These are memory foam."
McDonald told the newspaper: "Sexual harassment is not a joke."
The Times report also detailed other accounts by current and former PodcastOne employees of Pattiz making sexually inappropriate remarks toward female employees, including one woman who said she left the company in part because of the comments.
UC officials declined to comment.
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