Amerilodge CEO Accused of Sexual Assault, Retaliation at Detroit Concert

Stephanie Starling, a former hotel manager, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Amerilodge Group CEO Asad Malik of sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation during a company outing to a Justin Timberlake concert in Detroit. Starling alleges Malik groped her, attempted to force a kiss, and made repeated unwanted advances, including sliding his hand under her thigh and touching her butt during the concert. After fleeing to the bathroom in distress and reporting the incident to human resources, Starling claims she faced retaliation, including losing her job, after rejecting a settlement offer from Amerilodge. Malik and Amerilodge deny the allegations, asserting that Starling resigned and had a drinking problem. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission granted Starling a right-to-sue letter, and the case is now in federal court. Starling has spoken publicly about the lawsuit, emphasizing that being on a payroll does not justify such behavior and calling for accountability.