7 women at Austin Opera come forward after director's firing
Richard Buckley
The women told the Austin American-Statesman that opera executives and board members knew of  Richard Buckley's  behavior  but chose not to intervene because of  his  fame and talent.
On Feb. 1  Austin Opera said it fired  Buckley  for inappropriate behavior that violated the company's policy on harassment. The opera declined to provide further details.
 Buckley  told the Statesman in a statement that  he  never intended to offend anyone and that  he  used humor to "release pressure and defuse tension. "
Buckley  was in  his  13th season with Austin Opera.
The women told the Austin American-Statesman that opera executives and board members knew of   [TGT] behavior  but chose not to intervene because of   [TGT]   fame and talent.
On Feb. 1  Austin Opera said it fired   [TGT] for inappropriate behavior that violated the company's policy on harassment. The opera declined to provide further details.
  [TGT] told the Statesman in a statement that  he  never intended to offend anyone and that  he  used humor to "release pressure and defuse tension. "
 [TGT] was in  his  13th season with Austin Opera.