John Legend apologizes for 'elevating' activist Adam Foss who stands accused of sexual assault

John Legend is apologizing to the alleged sexual assault victims of former Massachusetts prosecutor turned criminal justice reform advocate Adam Foss. 

The 42-year-old EGOT winner took to Twitter to issue a mea culpa for ‘elevating’ Foss back in 2015 when Legend and his organization, Free America, were working on a public awareness campaign about criminal prosecutors.

As part of the campaign, John used his considerably wide reach to shine a light on ‘progressive prosecutors’, Adam Foss among them.

‘In 2015 we (my org @freeamerica, @tystiklorius and I) helped elevate Adam John Foss and the concept of progressive prosecutors,’ Legend wrote in a series of tweets.  ‘I later learned that he used his platform to harm women.’

‘He used my name and association to gain credibility, and while we are committed to a world where people’s lives aren’t defined by their mistakes, it’s unacceptable to use one’s power and influence to harm women,’ the singer-songwriter continued, adding: ‘We are so sorry to all of the women he has harmed.’

Many of John’s followers on the platform responded with thanks for not only apologizing but for believing the women who have raised the accusations of sexual assault.

In November, Suffolk District Attorney Rachel Rollins announced that a former DA in the Massachusetts county, Adam Foss, was under investigation for sexual misconduct. 

‘I am aware of and troubled by the allegations that a former SCDAO employee engaged in behavior that was either inappropriate, an abuse of his authority, unethical or illegal,’ Rollins said on social media. ‘Every allegation will be investigated fairly and thoroughly.’

In a press release, Rollins expressed her gratitude for the brave women who stepped forward with their allegations against Foss, who had been employed as a DA in the county from 2008-2016.

The prosecutor explained that she had been made aware of the accusations against Foss – which span the time he was working as a DA and beyond – through an essay published on Medium on November 17, 2020. 

An outside law firm was brought in to conduct an independent criminal and civil investigation into the allegations.

In the Medium essay, titled The Wolf and the Whisper Network, the author who described her alleged rape, said that Foss had name checked John Legend when they first met.

‘He radiated charisma. I’d never heard of him, but a quick google told me he was Adam John Foss, an ex-prosecutor whose 2016 TED Talk had over 2 million views He’d worked with John Legend,’ author and accuser Raegan Sealy penned. ‘Cool, I thought.’ 

In response to the news he was under investigation, Foss issued a statement at the time denying the accusations, per reporting by WBUR.

‘Some of my callous and insensitive behavior has caused many people anguish, but I deny any allegations of nonconsensual sexual relations,’ he said in his statement.

‘With respect to District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ recent statement referencing a pending investigation, I do not wish to compromise that process by commenting further. In addition, this is a more appropriate time for me to listen than to speak,’ he continued.