Overview
- Asher says he is speaking out to dispute accusations that surfaced during the #MeToo period, asserting they stemmed from former partners and anonymous complaints.
- He acknowledges multiple consensual affairs and infidelity, but denies coercion, threats, or exploiting a power imbalance.
- A defamation lawsuit he filed in 2018 was dismissed under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, leaving no legal reversal of the allegations.
- SCBWI received an anonymous letter signed by seven women and he was asked not to attend its events; he disputes a claim he was expelled following an investigation.
- The Free Press identifies author Robin Mellom as a ringleader and reports corroborated evidence of years of online harassment, while one woman involved now describes parts of the effort as a vendetta and says her encounter was consensual; Asher also lost agency representation and royalty income.