Climbers Weigh In on Nims Purja Following Sexual Abuse Allegations

Leading figures in the worlds of international mountaineering and Nepali politics are weighing in on celebrity climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja in the wake of bombshell allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

On May 31, the New York Times published the accounts of two women who allege that Purja, 40, sexually harassed and assaulted them on separate occasions. In one account, Finnish climber Lotta Hinsta says Purja invited her into his Kathmandu hotel room, where it’s alleged that he proceeded to partially undress her and attempt to initiate sex, despite her repeatedly telling him no. Hintsa said Purja eventually relented and then masturbated next to her. She said the encounter occurred in 2023, during what was supposed to be a business meeting between the two.

In another account, California physician April Leonardo alleged that Purja made unwanted physical and verbal advances toward her during a 2022 expedition to climb 28,251-foot K2.

The public relations team for Purja, who rocketed to global fame in 2021 after the success of the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, denied the claims in a lengthy statement posted on Instagram.

“A story has been published making heinous allegations to which Nims unequivocally denies any wrongdoing,” the statement reads. “These allegations are defamatory and false.”

In the days following publication, however, a growing chorus of mountaineers, brands, and even Nepali politicians have praised the women featured in the Times piece and have called for action against Purja. Purja is one of the most prominent figures in Himalayan mountaineering, and his Elite Exped guiding company takes clients to Mount Everest and other high peaks around the world.

Rajendra Bajgain, a member of Nepal’s parliament representing the Gurkha constituency, sent a statement to Outside saying the Nepali government should launch an investigation into the new allegations.

“As a member of parliament in Nepal, it is very important that these investigations are taken seriously and pursued diligently, especially when involving someone as prominent as Nirmal Purja,” Bajgain said. “We owe it to our visitors and everyone in Nepal to ensure they feel safe and can trust our authorities. I will be advocating for such investigations because no one is above the law. Ensuring safety and trust in Nepalese law is essential for our country’s reputation and the continued success of our tourism industry.”

According to the Himalayan Times, Bajgain urged the Nepali congress on June 4 to ban Purja from entering Nepal. Purja lives in the United Kingdom.

In the days after the story was published, several female climbers weighed in, among them Alison Levine and Melissa Arnot Reid, who wrote that she had “been waiting for over a year for this story to break.” In a statement published on Instagram, Arnot Reid told her followers that they were safe to share their stories with her.

“The number of messages I have received from women today telling me their story is both crushing and activating,” she wrote.

Some Brands Stay with Purja, Others Depart

A lengthy conversation about the allegations sprang up in the comments section of a post published by guiding company AWE Expeditions, which is owned and operated by women. The original post stated that AWE was “deeply troubled by the reports of Nims perpetrating sexual violence against women in the mountains.” The post also named and tagged some of Purja’s sponsors, among them Red Bull, Scarpa, and Osprey Packs.

In the comments section, Osprey said it had cut ties with Purja. “Osprey is aware of the recent allegations made against mountaineer Nirmal Purja. He is no longer an Osprey ambassador,” the brand wrote. A brand representative confirmed the statement to Outside. 

Outside also reached out to Scarpa and Red Bull regarding the allegations. Through a spokesperson, Red Bull said, “It is a matter for the public authorities to determine the facts concerning allegations against any person who has been accused.”

A Scarpa representative provided a statement to Outside saying the company was looking into the claims of sexual assault and harassment. “Scarpa takes these allegations—and any like them—extremely seriously,” the statement reads. “We are in the midst of an internal inquiry to determine our course of action.”

Some Say Allegations Are “Tip of the Iceberg”

The discourse on social media continued throughout the weekend and into Tuesday, June 4. American guide Adrian Ballinger, who recently climbed Mount Everest from the Tibet side, said on Instagram that he’s familiar with the hurdles that women have faced in the mountaineering community. “This week one of Everest’s biggest stars, Nirmal Purja, was credibly accused of sexual assault by multiple women,” Ballinger wrote.

“I’m deep enough in this world to have a pretty good sense of where the truth lies,” he continued. “It’s way past time for that truth to have its day. And it’s always time for women to know we want this playing field to be safe and equal for them like it is for us.”

Ballinger wasn’t the only mountaineer to share the story alongside a statement of support. American guide Garrett Madison and Austrian expedition operator Lukas Furtenbach both praised the story. Furtenbach called the allegations against Purja “credible” and condemned the behavior. British-Egyptian adventurer Omar Samra called the story the “tip of the iceberg.”

“So many women, some I know personally, have been living in fear of speaking the truth because the power structures are built to keep them quiet, while others work actively to silence them,” he wrote.

Catalan mountain runner Kilian Jornet referenced Hintsa’s “courageous denunciations” alongside a photo of the Times story, and referred to a “lawless feeling” in the high-altitude community. He said climbers have an obligation for “calling out aggression we experience or witness, and ensuring those in power, often men in roles such as guides and expedition leaders, create and maintain a safe space.”

Purja’s Response

On Wednesday, June 5, Purja published another denial on his Instagram page. In this statement, he said he had instructed his legal team to “move forward with the next steps in proceedings against the publication” in the wake of the Times report.

Outside reached out to Purja’s public relations representatives for comment on the public and sponsor reaction to the Times piece. His representative said the Osprey relationship deal ending amid the story’s publishing was coincidental.

“We had been in the process of reviewing the contract between us before any article, and due to refocusing on their business model, they decided not to renew,” a representative for Purja said.

Purja’s team provided Outside with a statement that Purja published on Instagram. The statement denied any allegations of any sexual abuse or harassment and said the Times story “was biased and had a pre-determined narrative and outcome.”

“While we understand women’s safety is an emotive topic and a hugely important one in all spaces—not just the outdoor industry—allegation, speculation and rumor should not be able to override the legal process,” the statement said. “For society to function it must be fair and unbiased. The legal presumption is innocent until proven guilty— the outcome should not be judged in the court of public opinion, or the arena of likes, shares and clickbait headlines.”