• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
RetailAmerican Apparel

Five things reported about American Apparel CEO Charney’s ouster

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 27, 2014, 11:55 AM ET
American Apparel Hipster Turns Preppy As Stock May Be Delisted
Dov Charney, chairman and chief executive officer of American Apparel Inc., stands for a portrait in a company retail store in New York, U.S., on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Starting the company in a dorm at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, Charney built a worldwide empire of 280 clothing stores by leaping out ahead of mainstream fashion. He personified the racy, risk-taking aesthetics of his business and is now facing the consequences - skittish lenders and investors who doubt his ability to oversee his own creation. Photographer: Keith Bedford/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Keith Bedford — Bloomberg via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The rumors swirling around American Apparel’s recently-ousted President and Chief Executive Dov Charney kicked into high gear this week, with lengthy reports by both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times speculating on his ejection from the controversial apparel company.

Media reports, analysts and investors are all trying to figure out one important detail: what finally led the board to get rid of Charney? The retailer’s stock traded as high as $15 in late 2007, but has languished for years as losses at the company have mounted. American Apparel’s annual loss last year swelled sharply to $106.3 million from $37.3 million in 2012. Litigation involving Charney have also been a concern.

Here are five juicy details that have surfaced this week:

1) Board members reportedly met at the Redeye Grill in Manhattan to plan Charney’s ouster. According to the Times, four American Apparel board members and their lawyer plotted a plan to fire the company’s founder and CEO over steaks and red wine. On that evening — June 17 — board member Allan Mayer agreed to lead the showdown with Charney the following day, the Times said.

2) American Apparel reportedly only had one lawyer in the United States at one point. Charney allegedly forced out important company executives over the past year, including General Counsel Glenn Weinman, the Times said. As a result, a company with about 10,000 employees was left with a single lawyer in the U.S.

3) Charney earlier this year began signing all of the company’s checks — hundreds of them every month, according to the Journal. That was one of several bottlenecks that plagued the retailer.

4) Charney at one point called a new distribution center home. Between August and November of 2013, the former CEO relocated to a California distribution center full time as he worked around the clock to fix a packaging snafu due to software problems. The issue cost the company $15 million, the Journal reported.

5) In May, new information emerged about another long-running lawsuit, the Times reported. That suit was brought by a former American Apparel store manager who alleged that Charney had used a homophobic slur against him and had assaulted him.

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

work
Workplace Culturework culture
Worker engagement just hit a decade low — and new data from 88 million employees shows why managers are the problem
By Bob Batchelor and The ConversationJune 23, 2026
2 hours ago
Young woman shopper in store
SuccessPersonal Finance
Bed Bath & Beyond will splash out $100,00 on a home renovation for the thriftiest couponer of 2026
By Emma BurleighJune 23, 2026
4 hours ago
wc
North AmericaWorld Cup
One World Cup, two worlds: Atlanta’s $3 pizza collides with Mexican beer that costs a day’s wages
By Tim Reynolds and The Associated PressJune 23, 2026
6 hours ago
Kraft pounces on World Cup ranch craze with TSA-approved travel kits after the agency tells visitors to ‘avoid chugging’ the dressing
Travel & LeisureFood and drink
Kraft pounces on World Cup ranch craze with TSA-approved travel kits after the agency tells visitors to ‘avoid chugging’ the dressing
By Catherina GioinoJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
Alcohol consumption is tanking among youths, so wine brands are chasing Gen Z with NASCAR and WWE partnerships
Retailwine
Alcohol consumption is tanking among youths, so wine brands are chasing Gen Z with NASCAR and WWE partnerships
By The Associated PressJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
A man holds a grocery basket and walks down the aisle of a store.
RetailFood and drink
Your ‘proteinmaxxing’ is creating a whey shortage that’s ratcheting up prices and leaving snack companies to eat costs or make recipes worse
By Sasha RogelbergJune 21, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
9 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
Economy
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
By Jason MaJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
By 7 a.m., Bank of America’s CEO has already read 5 newspapers, his email inbox, and hit the gym—he says if you’re late to meetings, you’re ‘selfish’
Success
By 7 a.m., Bank of America’s CEO has already read 5 newspapers, his email inbox, and hit the gym—he says if you’re late to meetings, you’re ‘selfish’
By Preston ForeJune 22, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.