Helen Gurley Brown helmed Cosmopolitan for 32 years before being replaced by Bonnie Fuller in 1996. A run like that might lead one to believe that she was beloved in the hallways at publisher Hearst. A new lawsuit suggests that’s not exactly the case.

This morning, items about the now-86-year-old Brown reveal a career characterized by questionable behavior. Despite being a target for at least a decade as circulation slipped, a forthcoming biography of Brown reveals an even darker side to the story. The new tell-all, Bad Girls Go Everywhere, (set to be released in April) dishes on how Brown was forced out over comments on sexual harassment, AIDs and other controversial matters. Author Jennifer Scanlon writes:

In the end, Helen Gurley Brown would prove an exceedingly difficult person to nudge from her coveted but comfortable position, and it took another decade for Hearst executives to force the issue.

According to the publisher’s website, Scanlon followed Brown’s career as a frank and fearless feminist who achieved tremendous commercial success. While her convictions might have pushed a few buttons, according to one former staffer, Brown was "one of the greatest editors in the business." The staffer writes:

Using Cosmopolitan as her medium, Helen gave women the same sexual freedom men had and taught us to enjoy it and make it fun. She has been acknowledged as one of the greatest editors in the business and what she taught us about writing and editing was a gift — someone ought to check out how long her editors stayed with her out of huge love, devotion and awe. Each one of us became a Cosmo girl and I never saw a downside. Unlike sisterhood wars, Helen made us friends, not competitors.

But, in the end, it was probably time for Brown to say good-bye. After all, there’s something really strange about young girls taking tips on "How to Lose Your Virginity" from a 75-year-old. But, then again, older women do know best …