U2 singer Bono has apologised after claims of bullying and abuse emerged at One, the charity he co-founded.
Among the allegations are that one female worker was demoted after refusing to “become intimate” with a foreign government official.
A message from our President and CEO @GayleSmith on our investigation into past workplace conduct issues at @onecampaign #transparencyhttps://t.co/Ourc1p552J
— ONE (@ONECampaign) March 9, 2018
The woman’s manager reportedly made “sexist and suggestive comments” about her to the official.
Bono told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “We are all deeply sorry. I hate bullying, can’t stand it.”
The newspaper said the charity publicly admitted the issues hours after it had sent a long list of allegations at the end of an investigation, in order to allow One to comment.
The statement from the charity’s CEO, Gayle Smith, said former employees had notified the organisation earlier this week about pending legal action over their complaints.
It said “historical issues” of mistreatment emerged in November when some former employees from its Johannesburg office told their stories on social media.