Heathcliff Berru: Music publicist steps down and releases 'apology' in response to sexual harassment allegations

Several women have come forward with allegations against the former boss of Life or Death PR, who said he was 'deeply sorry for those who I have offended by my actions'

Heathcliff Beru resigned from his role as CEO of Life or Death PR following the allegations (Facebook)

Music publicist Heathcliff Berru has resigned from his role as chief executive of Life or Death PR and issued an "apology" after several women released allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.

Life or Death PR represented artists such as D'Angelo, Wavves and DIIV.

Allegations against the now-former CEO were first made by Amber Coffman, singer and guitarist for the band Dirty Projectors, who accused him on Twitter of touching her inappropriately and biting her hair.

After Ms Coffman shared her allegations against Mr Berru, several other women came forward with claims against him.

Beth Martinez, a publicist for Danger Village PR, also tweeted an account of his alleged behaviour:

Brooklyn musician Roxy Lange claimed to have been assaulted by Mr Berru when she was just 21 years old, in an email sent to Brooklyn Magazine.

"He kept trying to force me to give him a blowjob in a cab and wouldn’t stop pushing my head into his lap forcefully, with his pants unzipped and penis out in the open," she wrote.

"After I got out of the cab, he followed me up three flights of stairs and forced his way into my apartment, attempting to force himself on me but he was luckily too drunk and coked up to get hard so he gave up."

Several other artists and industry figures have also made allegations.

Less than 24 hours after Ms Coffman tweeted her allegations, Heathcliff Berru stepped down from his role as CEO of Life or Death PR.

In a statement to LA Weekly, Mr Berru said he was "deeply sorry for those who I have offended by my actions".

"I am deeply sorry for those who I have offended by my actions and how I have made certain women feel," he wrote.

"If I crossed the line of decency or respectfulness in situations when I was drunk and under the influence, there is no excuse of course."

Responding to the allegation he had drugged one woman before groping her, he wrote: "To be clear, while my conduct may have been inappropriate, I have never drugged anyone or engaged in that type of behaviour."

He goes on to blame his actions on drugs and alcohol, saying: "I have been fighting a losing battle against drugs and alcohol for many years and will be checking into a rehabilitation facility in the hope that I can improve my chances of winning that fight.

"I have already lost my wife, abandoned my family, and destroyed those I love as a result of my shameful, embarrassing, unacceptable behavior. I deeply apologize to them as well."

He ends his letter by saying the allegations against him do not reflect on Life or Death PR or its staff.

In response to the statement, Ms Coffman tweeted:​

Since the allegations were made public, Wavves announced on Twitter they had fired Mr Berru as their publicist:

Rock band DIIV say they have also parted ways with him:

Guitarist Sadie Dupuis, of Speedy Ortiz, said in a tweet her band will no longer be reprented by Life or Death

After Mr Berru stepped down from his role as CEO of Life or Death PR, the company released a statement to say: "Life or Death has a zero tolerance policy for the type of conduct alleged in today’s on-line postings. We take these allegations very seriously.

"The men and women who make up this company do not, and will not, condone or tolerate any conduct described in the on-line postings."