Afro Punk’s longtime editor-in-chief Lou Constant-Desportes used his Facebook platform to announce his resignation. In a series of  Facebook posts Constant-Desportes writes that he

“experienced and witnessed so many lies, gaslighting, disrespect, victim-blaming, exploitation,” as well as “overworked, undervalued and underpaid staff being kept in precarious situations.”

“the philosophy and actions of some of the people who run the company are so at odds with the values that they claim to stand for.”

“they were using radical imagery, slogans and intersectional mottos to market their events. Performative activism offered to sponsors as ways to promote their products. Elitism under the guise of ‘Black excellence.’”

“when the editorial content was too ‘radical’ or unapologetic for their taste, we were asked to tone it down, our independence was compromised.”

Constant-Desportes went on to write that Afropunk is “trying to make [him] sign a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for ‘hush money,‘” which he wrote prompted him to share the narrative first.

Check out the full statement: