Webster PR has shut down effective immediately (Nov. 1) following sexual misconduct allegations made against its president and CEO, Kirt Webster. The company’s website has been wiped.
In place of Webster PR’s website, a landing page explains, “As of November 1, 2017, Webster Public Relations is no longer in business.” Client inquiries are being directed to Jeremy Westby, one of the former Webster PR’s employees.
Webster’s departure and Webster PR’s re-branding come less than 24 hours after ex-country artist Austin Rick accused Webster, in a story published by the Nashville Scene, of sexually molesting and abusing him, paying Rick to keep quiet and threatening to sabotage Rick’s career if he didn’t in the late 2000s. The two met through producer Brett Beavers shortly after Rick moved to Nashville in 2008, the former singer tells the Scene, and Rick recounts three separate alleged incidents, which took place over the course of a year, during which he says Webster made sexual advances toward him.
In a statement via a spokesperson, Webster denies Rick’s claims, noting that Webster, “as a single adult … has had multiple relationships over the course of his professional life, all of which have been consensual … includ[ing] a brief relationship with Mr. Rick.” However, Nashville’s WSMV-TV reports that other individuals — former Webster PR employees — have spoken with them and claim that Webster behaved similarly during their tenures with the company.
Webster PR’s clients included Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Ray Cyrus, Olivia Lane and many more.
The Boot will update this story as more information becomes available.
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