Hearst Magazines president resigns after allegations of ‘toxic culture’

Hearst Magazines President Troy Young resigned late Thursday amid accusations that he made sexist remarks to employees at the company.

Young’s resignation comes after a New York Times investigation published Wednesday detailed what it described as a “toxic culture” at Hearst that included allegations of Young emailing pornography to Hearst editor Jay Fielden.

Young is also reported to have picked up a sex toy during a visit to Cosmopolitan Magazine’s offices while making a lewd joke about it, according to the Times. 

“Troy Young and I have agreed that it is in the best interest of all of us that he resign his position as president of Hearst Magazines, effective immediately,” Hearst President and CEO Steven Swartz wrote in a staff memo published online on Thursday.

The resignation was “effective immediately,” per Swartz.

Young, who was named president of Hearst Magazines in 2018 and was with the company for seven years overall, pushed back on the accusations in a statement to the New York Times, calling the claims “untrue” and “taken out of context.”

“Specific allegations raised by my detractors are either untrue, greatly exaggerated or taken out of context,” Young wrote.

“The pace of evolving our business and the strength of my commitment is ambitious, and I sincerely regret the toll it has taken on some in our organization.” He also added that “candid conversations about sex defined the Cosmo brand for decades, and those who worked there discussed it openly.”

Young oversaw several popular publications during his tenure, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire.

A replacement for Young has not been named.