Toronto police launching Ghomeshi investigation

On the heels of reports that Jian Ghomeshi showed bosses at the CBC graphic videos of him beating women as a means of clearing his name, Toronto Police have confirmed that they are launching an investigation into multiple allegations of abuse against the former Q host. The Toronto Star reports that two women, one of whom is Trailer Park Boys actress Lucy DeCoutere, have filed a complaint with the police force alleging that they were beaten by Ghomeshi.

Both of the women had previously detailed their experiences with Ghomeshi to the Star: DeCoutere came forward earlier this week, saying that Ghomeshi choked and beat her, slapping her three times on the side of the head. A second, unnamed victim, who spoke to the Star on Monday, alleges that Ghomeshi pulled her by her hair to the floor and punched her three times in the head.

Earlier this week, Toronto Police said that despite the numerous allegations surfacing in the press, no one had lodged an official complaint with the police service. Staff, including Police Chief Bill Blair, encouraged anyone who had information and wanted to come forward to do so.

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by Natalia Manzocco via blogTO

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Star says Ghomeshi showed CBC graphic sex videos

Jian Ghomeshi showed CBC brass graphic videos of sexual encounters, which included beatings and bondage, as proof that his violent encounters with women were consensual, sources have told the Toronto Star. Before being fired by the broadcaster last weekend, Ghomeshi had become aware that allegations against him were about to surface, and had brought in the videos as evidence that, as a source told the Star, "how bruising could happen and it could still be consensual."

Ghomeshi features in the videos, which featured "scenarios where Jian Ghomeshi asks, for example, a woman to do something and she does it," the source told the Star. In his initial public statement after being fired by the network Sunday, the host said he "voluntarily showed evidence that everything I have done has been consensual. I did this in good faith and because I know, as I have always known, that I have nothing to hide. This when the CBC decided to fire me."

The attempt, of course, backfired. In a new internal memo to employees leaked online Friday afternoon, the CBC confirmed that at a Thursday, October 23 meeting with Ghomeshi, they saw "graphic evidence that Jian had caused physical injury to a woman" and found it to be "fundamentally unacceptable for any employee." He was officially terminated three days later. The memo also confirms that Ghomeshi first notified them of a possible Toronto Star investigation into his conduct this spring. Read the full memo here.

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by Natalia Manzocco via blogTO

Jian Ghomeshi dumped by agent

Jian Ghomeshi was dumped by his agent today, less that 24 hours after being dropped by both of his PR agencies. In an emailed statement The Agency Group, a live music booking agency with offices in Toronto and around the world, confirmed that they are no longer the agent of representation for Jian Ghomeshi. No further comment was issued.

The news comes on the same day that Ghomeshi was finally disinvited from a book tour appearance set to take place in Toronto next month, and in the wake of numerous new allegations about what the CBC and the Toronto media community did or didn't know about his conduct.

No comment is expected by Ghomeshi who yesterday posted on Facebook that he doesn't intend to discuss the matter any further.

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by Staff via blogTO