Snowboarder White regrets past behaviour after questions over sexual harassment
Related Story: NBC under fire as snowboard star White apologises for sexual harassment 'gossip' remark
American snowboarder Shaun White says he regrets his past behaviour after being questioned on sexual harassment allegations levelled against him two years ago.
White, who won Winter Olympic gold in the men's halfpipe in a thrilling final in Pyeongchang, was questioned about the allegations at his press conference, in which replied he was "here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip".
The "gossip" remark prompted a backlash from several media organisations, prompting an apology from White for his "poor choice of words" on NBC's The Today program.
Now White has issued a short statement to The New York Times, saying he regrets his behaviour.
"I regret my behaviour of many years ago and am sorry that I made anyone — particularly someone I considered a friend — uncomfortable," the statement read.
"I have grown and changed as a person, as we all grow and change, and am proud of who I am today."
White settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in May, 2017, after a female former member of his band filed a 76-page complaint against him.
The suit, filed by former Bad Things drummer Lena Zawaideh, accused White of sexual harassment, non-payment of wages and wrongful termination, including photos of sexually explicit images that White had allegedly sent to Ms Zawaideh.
But Ms Zawaideh's lawyer has hit back, saying there were "powerful forces at play which prevent Ms Zawaideh from speaking about the allegations and ultimate outcome of the sexual harassment case".
"Before Mr White made his comment, Ms Zawaideh believed that this matter was in the past, and she was happy to put the situation behind her so she can focus on her blossoming music career," lawyer Lawrance Bohm told USA Today.
"Unfortunately, by his recent comments and conduct, Mr White has minimised the problem of sexual harassment in this country."
The lawsuit alleged White had fired Ms Zawaideh after she refused his demand to cut her hair.
The sexual harassment lawsuit resurfaced amid White's run to gold-medal glory when an article published by Slate asked why American Olympic broadcaster NBC was not mentioning the allegations against the star athlete.
In the lawsuit, Ms Zawaideh claimed White sent her explicit text messages featuring pornographic videos and images of "engorged" and "erect" penises.
The documents allege that in March 2014, White was becoming "increasingly hostile" after failing to medal in the Sochi Olympics and took it out on Ms Zawaideh, who alleged she felt physically threatened by White.
The snowboarder had also allegedly sent photos to Ms Zawaideh of risqué outfits asking if she was "cool" wearing them for performances.
In a text-message exchange revealed by the lawsuit, Ms Zawaideh alleged "White used his role to impose a strict regimen over (Ms) Zawaideh, going so far as to demand that she cut her hair, wear sexually revealing clothes and underwear, and refrain from wearing red lipstick".
In February 2017, White asked the court to compel Ms Zawaideh to undergo a mental health evaluation, but then reached a settlement with his former drummer three months later.
External Link: Shaun White apologises over gossip remark on NBC's Today Show
Some publishers questioned NBC's presentation of White as an American hero, both in the build-up to the Winter Olympics and in the immediate aftermath of obtaining his gold medal.
The Slate article that rebooted the conversation on White took aim at NBC's Super Bowl advert promoting White and its upcoming Winter Olympics coverage.
Deadspin lashed The Today Show's interview with White — in which he apologised for the "gossip" remark — as "softball" and "friendly".
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