Evil by Design: Exposing Peter Nygård

Episode 1

Roots of Design

With a rags-to-riches backstory, and a work-hard, play-hard reputation, Finnish immigrant Peter Nygard quickly rises to become the darling of the Canadian fashion world. But behind the scenes at Nygard's fast growing multi-million-dollar garment company, employees say they are enduring toxic verbal abuse and flagrant sexual harassment. Some quit and stay silent, but a brave group of women tells their story to a local reporter. A splashy front page story outs Nygard as an abusive boss and the reporter is flooded with calls from women who have even more stories to tell. But when Nygard threatens the newspaper with a lawsuit, the follow up stories never run. From the 1980s to the early 2000s there are constant rumours about what Peter Nygard did on his private jet, at his offices in Winnipeg and New York, and especially in his luxurious compound in the Bahamas. But no charges are filed. Then an investigative reporter from the New York Times follows an anonymous tip and tries to find out the truth behind the secrets. Women - fearful of reprisals by Nygard and not supported by the criminal justice system - are reluctant to come forward. It seems like a dead end until one woman finally goes on the record, alleging that Nygard raped her during a business trip decades before. And that's not all the reporter discovers. An investigation in the Bahamas has also uncovered some shocking evidence. Is the truth about Nygard finally coming to light?