Time’s Up CEO resigned after sexual misconduct accusations made against her son

The CEO of the “Time’s Up” anti-harassment group, Lisa Borders, stepped down earlier this week following sexual misconduct accusations made against her son, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Borders abruptly left the group on Monday, saying she needed to address undisclosed “family concerns.” The former WNBA president was named the group’s first CEO and president in October.

{mosads}The Times reported Thursday that Borders’ 36-year-old son, Garry “Dijon” Bowden Jr., had been accused of sexual assault in a Facebook post days before his mother’s resignation.

Celia Gellert, a 31-year-old yoga instructor and spiritual healer, claimed that Bowden touched and kissed her inappropriately and without consent while giving her a “healing session,” according to the Times.

Bowden’s attorney, Alan Jackson, told the paper that his client “vehemently denies that any inappropriate or nonconsensual touching occurred at any time” during the session.

Jackson also showed the paper a text exchange between Bowden and Gellert in which she described the massage as “gentle and authentic and loving.”

Gellert told the Times that she asked Bowden, a fellow wellness professional, for the healing session at her home. But she said the session turned from healing to “disgusting” when he touched her inappropriately, kissed her neck and blew air on her genitals.

“I told him I didn’t feel well and he kept saying, ‘Trust me,’ ” she told the Times.

She initially thanked Bowden for the session, but later reached out via text message to say she was “feeling uncomfortable and violated” by some parts of the encounter.

“I do feel a little surprised to [hear] that you’re saying you feel uncomfortable with the process [because] you said multiple times during and after how beautiful and supportive it was,” Bowden responded.

Gellert later detailed the experience to two friends who confirmed the story’s consistency to the Times and wrote in a Facebook group warning others to “stay far away” from Bowden. She also said she reported the incident to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Bowden has written extensively about struggles with alcohol and drugs, and about a complicated relationship with his parents, including Borders, according to the Times. Borders did not respond to the paper’s multiple requests for comment.

Sources familiar with the situation told the Times that Borders immediately informed the Time’s Up board of the allegations against her son, and volunteered to step down.

“Time’s Up” confirmed in a statement after the Times published its report that Borders had stepped down due to the allegations.

“On Friday, Lisa Borders informed members of Time’s Up leadership that sexual assault allegations had been made against her son in a private forum,” the statement said. “Within 24 hours, Lisa made the decision to resign as president and CEO of Time’s Up and we agreed that it was the right decision for all parties involved. All of our actions were fully guided by our support for survivors.”

“Time’s Up” was founded as a legal defense fund and support organization aimed at combatting workplace sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment and other industries. It was launched in the early days of the “Me Too” movement after sexual misconduct allegations emerged against a number of prominent men in the entertainment and media world.