Okayplayer and OkayAfrica released a statement today announcing that the organizations have “severed all ties” and accepted the resignation of CEO and publisher Abiola Oke. “We take the allegations that have surfaced very seriously, and we stand with the brave women who came forward.” The company’s statement claims that an outside advisor will “review and investigate our current and past policies and practices” and that “further action will be announced.”
Questlove, a founder of Okayplayer, shared the company’s statement and added: “More announcements coming up. This was long overdue.”
The news comes after several women who worked for Okayplayer and OkayAfrica shared an open letter last night about their experiences at the company over the past five years. “From 2015 to 2020, several Black Women working across Okayplayer and OkayAfrica were subject to a lack of support and resources, below market salaries, inadequate leadership, targeting and sabotage, slander, verbal abuse, inappropriate behavior, gaslighting, lack of empathy, manipulation, rationalizing poor or unethical conduct and wrongful termination,” the letter reads. They asked that Oke “step down or be removed” as CEO and publisher.