Why was Dov Charney fired? Details from Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, explained 

Netflix’s latest documentary, 'Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel,' recounts the story of the American clothing brand American Apparel, from its rise to its fall. The founder, Dov Charney, was embroiled in several accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment.

These allegations led to Charney’s dismissal as the CEO of American Apparel in 2014. Interviews with former employees and the Netflix documentary, The Cult of American Apparel, explore Dov Charney’s inappropriate behavior. For example, in the trailer, one person can be heard saying:

"He was crossing all kinds of lines and boundaries."

More on this in our story.

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel- Why was Dov Charney fired? Details explored

Dov Charney founded the brand in 1989, and it quickly gained fame because of its quirky advertising and the fact that all its clothing was produced in America. However, the brand faced several challenges, including issues with Dov Charney's workplace behavior. According to CNBC, he had been accused of inappropriate conduct at work since 2005. In the trailer for The Cult of American Apparel, one person stated:

"It was definitely an open secret that Dov was sleeping with the employees."

Another said:

"The allegations that landed on my desk made me absolutely enraged. These claims happened over and over again."

All of this led to Charney being fired in 2014 by the board. According to Business Insider, a memo filed against Charney was based on sexual allegations of using company money for family and friends. It also read:

"You engaged in conduct that repeatedly put yourself in a position to be sued by numerous former employees for claims that include harassment, discrimination and assault."

However, Charney has maintained his stance and denies all those allegations, as he told CNBC in an email in 2020, which reads as follows:

"The board asked me to voluntarily step down as CEO and relinquish control over my 27% ownership stake in the company, or be forcibly removed."

He further added:

"Using old, discredited allegations they knew were false as cover to terminate me, they embarked on a well-financed media campaign to discredit me and my track record as a successful executive and entrepreneur."

After being suspended from American Apparel, he later started another clothing company, Los Angeles Apparel, in 2016, which shared similar roots with his previous business. In an interview with Vice News, Charney stated:

"My previous company had an effect on the culture of young adults."

He continued:

"I want to reconnect and do that again before I die."

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Also Read: Is Dov Charney still working in fashion? Whereabouts of disgraced American Apparel CEO from Netflix's Trainwreck, explored

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