Courtney Love is accused by journalist Frank Elaridi of groping him nearly a decade ago.
The 58-year-old singer-songwriter allegedly groped him “six to ten years ago,” the Emmy-winning journalist revealed in an episode of his podcast. Honestlyon Thursday.
The author also stated that by sharing this information now, he is not trying to “cancel” the musician, but rather is starting a conversation about double standards.
The author recalled being assigned to interview the actress — who is returning to the big screen after a five-year hiatus — at Coachella when he was 24 years old.
The presenter said at the time that he worked for Nightline and went to the guitarist’s after party to meet her.
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Reportedly: Courtney Love, 58, is accused by journalist Frank Elaridi of groping him nearly a decade ago
“I’m at her after party to interview her in a side room,” he said while speaking to his podcast guest, Nahko. And she says, “Come hang out with us!” So I do.
“We take a picture together, and as soon as the picture is done, she grabs my crotch really hard,” he told the Oregon-born musician.
Elaridi shared the photo in question, adding that he was “baffled” by her startling pose.
He then clarified that he doesn’t want to “cancel” her, but to start a conversation about the double standard in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
“It would never occur to me to say, ‘Now, 10 years later, let me go after her,'” he said.
“She’s a rock star in my head — not to justify it or say it’s OK — but in my mind it would never cross my mind to do that,” he continued. ‘[But] maybe we should talk about it.’
He then asked the question, “Is it because she is a woman and I am a man?”
Elaridi also told People that in bringing up this meeting now, he is not trying to “cancel her or get her in trouble, but rather start a conversation about why these double standards exist between men and women.”
Opening: The singer-songwriter reportedly groped him “six to 10 years ago,” the Emmy-winning journalist revealed on an episode of his podcast, Quite Honestly, on Thursday
At the time: The author recalled being assigned to interview the actress—who is returning to the big screen after a five-year hiatus—at Coachella when he was 24 years old. The presenter said at the time that he worked for Nightline and went to the guitarist’s after party to meet her.
Previously, “We take a picture together, and as soon as the picture is done, she grabs my crotch really hard,” he told the Oregon-born musician. Elaridi shared the photo in question, adding that he was “baffled” by her startling pose
Intentions: He then clarified that he doesn’t want to “cancel” Love, but to start a conversation about the double standard in the wake of the #MeToo movement
His take on her: He also added, “Courtney was nothing but nice when I interviewed her, and I really think she was just playing the persona of a rock star”
He also added, “Courtney was only being nice when I interviewed her, and I really think she was just playing the rock star persona.”
“She probably thought she was going to give this kid a picture to show his friends and talk about years,” he explained before adding that he didn’t think her intentions were “predatory.”
“My hope is that we get to a place where we can have open and honest conversations and give people the opportunity to grow and evolve, rather than just blaming them and permanently casting them out,” he told the publication. .
He also claimed that he was “fully aware” that he did not feel threatened or unsafe during the encounter – which would be different if the tables were turned.
“With that in mind, I understand why there could be a double standard where it’s just not the same, because I never felt like I was in danger or like she could overpower me,” he said.
“I was young, naive and went with it because people were watching and I thought this was what ‘cool’ people do,” he continued.