MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Michael Bass, a former 'Today' show coordinating producer and ex-NBC and CNN chief, has been accused by Aarthi Rajaraman, a former NBC intern, of sexual assault during their coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At the time of the alleged incident, Rajaraman was a 20-year-old college sophomore and had secured a role as a production assistant for NBC as part of her summer internship.
According to Rajaraman, Bass, who was her direct supervisor, allegedly coaxed her to his hotel room after an after-work event and assaulted her, causing her significant trauma. These serious allegations have brought attention to Bass and the alleged incident that took place during their time at the Olympics.
Who is Aarthi Rajaraman?
Aarthi Rajaraman is a highly experienced freelance producer and sports media and marketing professor. With over 20 years of industry experience, she has worked with renowned media brands including HBO, Vanity Fair, ESPN, Tennis Channel, CNN, and many others. Her extensive background in media highlights her expertise and diverse range of skills in various roles within the industry.
Aarthi Rajaraman is seeking compensatory and punitive damages
On Thursday, Rajaraman filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court, naming not only Bass but also the network's parent company, NBC/Universal Media, as defendants, according to The Daily Beast. Rajaraman is seeking compensatory and punitive damages that reflect the significant impact the alleged trauma from 1996 had on her life. The lawsuit highlights the seriousness of the incident and aims to hold both Bass and NBC/Universal Media accountable for the alleged actions and their consequences.
According to Rajaraman, the alleged attack by Bass had a profound and detrimental impact on her life. She claims that it triggered a series of negative consequences, including struggles with excessive drinking, eating disorders, self-contempt, difficulties in maintaining healthy romantic relationships, and even thoughts of suicide. The complaint further alleges that Bass retaliated against Rajaraman by "blackballing" her from advancing in her career as a broadcast journalist because she refused to engage in sexual acts with him willingly. While Rajaraman's life was allegedly derailed by the attack, the complaint asserts that Bass's career continued to thrive.
'She finally understood she had been a victim'
"More than 20 years passed until the #metoo movement and NBC’s ouster of Matt Lauer for similarly unchecked misconduct helped provide [Rajaraman] with the courage, understanding and resolve to, in 2020, contact a lawyer about Defendant Bass’s assault of her during the 1996 Summer Olympics," the complaint states. "[Rajaraman] finally understood she had been a victim without a voice or recourse, not the one to blame. [Bass] had used his power and clout to proceed as if nothing happened, while [Rajaraman] was made to pay the emotional and career damages." According to the complaint, Rajaraman believes that Michael Bass, her former supervisor at NBC, "similarly abused and assaulted other women" who were under his supervision. Rajaraman alleges that NBC allowed such unlawful behavior to persist without taking appropriate action.
