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Showing results for tags 'misconduct'.
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BTS Taehyung was openly called out for misbehaving by Han Seo Hee back in 2018
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WWE chief Vince McMahon to retire amid probe into misconduct claims
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McMahon being investigated for agreements to pay $12m over past 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct -
James Franco will play a lead role in Billie August?s movie
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DJ Tim Westwood accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women
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The former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has strongly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct -
During the #MeToo movement that jolted Bollywood, one of the big names that came up often was that of director Sajid Khan, when several women had raised complaints against him. Actress Sherlyn Chopra also shared her experience with the director and narrated an old incident. She revealed that back in 2005, she met the director after she lost her father, and had to face some uncomfortable behaviour. Responding to a tweet about Sajid, she said, "When I had met him in April 2005, a few days after my father’s demise, he had taken his p**is out of his pants and had asked me to feel it. I remember having told him that I know how a p**is feels like & that the purpose of my meeting with him was not to feel or rate his p**is (sic)." © Twitter © Twitter View this post on Instagram Naturally, people asked her on social media that why she decided to stay shut about this unfortunate incident all these years. "He has the 'superstars' of Bollywood to vouch for his 'character'. It's my word against theirs. The Bollywood mafia is a strong syndicate”, she responded to a user. “After flashing his p**is, he had not only asked me to touch it & feel it but also asked me if I had ever seen a p**is as well endowed as his,” she added. Following numerous allegations against him, Sajid was eventually suspended from the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association for one year. At that time he was working on his film Housefull 4 and had to quit the film midway. View this post on Instagram The director had, however, confidently denied all allegations. "I'm under suspension from the director’s association and am not working since the last 6 months. I will finish off my suspension period for the next few months and only then consider work,” he said in an interview. Source: India Today View the full article
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Takeshi Kasai says he is ready to cooperate in any investigation
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?Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? star fired over misconduct accusations
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James Snyder is known for playing Harry Potter in Broadway?s 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' -
Chris Cuomo faced sexual misconduct allegations before getting fired at CNN
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Attorney Debra Katz revealed that Cuomo was accused of sexual misconduct before being fired by CNN -
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo fired over role in brother's sexual misconduct scandal
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Cuomo, who hosted CNN's most-watched prime-time news show, had been suspended on Tuesday -
When behaviour that?s not normal is normalised, it 'can actually act as a gateway to more extreme acts and criminal acts'
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Settlement reached in James Franco sexual misconduct case
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A tentative settlement over sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against James Franco -
Ellen DeGeneres to address allegations of misconduct in her show
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Ellen DeGeneres Show's new season is starting this month -
A demonstrator takes part in a #MeToo protest march for survivors of sexual assault and their supporters on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files PARIS: From showbiz to politics and the aid sector, claims of sexual misconduct have piled up in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, claiming some high-profile casualties. Here is a rundown of some of the fallout. Entertainment The bombshell claims against Weinstein, made public in October, saw dozens of Hollywood women come forward with accusations ranging from sexual harassment to rape. It launched the global #MeToo campaign that encouraged victims to speak out. Similar allegations surfaced against a raft of leading actors, including Kevin Spacey ? who lost his role in House of Cards, Michael Douglas, and Steven Seagal. There were also claims against Hollywood directors Brett Ratner and James Toback, while previous allegations that Woody Allen molested his daughter resurfaced. In December, New York?s famed Metropolitan Opera suspended its longtime music director James Levine after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1985. Aid groups Oxfam was rocked this month by revelations that its Haiti country director used prostitutes while deployed to the quake-hit country in 2011, with claims of similar behaviour in Chad. The staff involved left their posts and the group?s deputy chief executive Penny Lawrence also resigned. The British charity said this week it was investigating 26 new cases of sexual misconduct. French group Doctors Without Borders revealed afterwards it had fired 19 staff last year for harassment or abuse. The deputy head of UNAIDS Luiz Loures said on February 23 he would resign after claims of sexual assault, even though he was cleared by an internal investigation. UNICEF deputy director Justin Forsyth also quit this week following complaints of inappropriate behaviour. Politics Australia?s Deputy Prime Minister announced on February 23 that he was quitting the post after claims of sexual harassment added to controversy over an affair. In November last year, British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon quit after being accused of groping a journalist. In one week in December, US lawmakers Republican Trent Franks, House Democrat John Conyers, and Senate Democrat Al Franken all stepped aside in the wake of sexual misconduct accusations. In Norway, former minister Trond Giske resigned as deputy leader of the Labour party in January and prominent Austrian politician Peter Pilz quit parliament last year. In France, similar allegations have been made against two government ministers. Media The US media has lost some of its biggest names to sexual harassment allegations including Fox News favourite Bill O?Reilly. The veteran broadcaster was forced out in April 2017, before the Weinstein saga broke. The channel fired last year sports programming executive Jamie Horowitz and suspended host Eric Bolling. In November, CBS News fired its powerful morning news anchor Charlie Rose and NBC sacked star Matt Lauer, both after allegations of sexual harassment. Business On February 21, the Ford Motor Company announced it had ousted its North American chief Raj Nair amid allegations of "inappropriate behaviour". Late January, Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn stepped down as Republican National Committee finance chairman following claims of sexual misconduct. Prominent Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar, an early Uber stakeholder, said in December he was stepping away from business activities to fight claims of sexual harassment. Disney animation chief John Lasseter took a six-month leave of absence in November after claims against him. In October last year, Amazon movie and television studios head Roy Price resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. Others Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was jailed this year for abusing at least 265 young female athletes over two decades. Some of the women said they only went public because of the #MeToo campaign. In the wake of the campaign, prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan was detained in France in early February after charges that he raped two women. There have also been allegations of misconduct in the fashion industry, including involving top photographers.
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Haiti president says many aid organizations hid misconduct
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An Oxfam sign is seen on a kiosk on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti?s president said on Friday that sexual misconduct by the staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an ?iceberg? and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders and other aid organizations which came to the country after its 2010 earthquake. ?The Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg,? President Jovenel Moise said in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday. ?It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally.? The scandal has already shaken the aid sector, with Britain and the European Union reviewing Oxfam?s funding. Oxfam, one of the world?s biggest disaster relief charities, apologized this week for unspecified sexual misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal investigation. It has neither confirmed nor denied a recent Times of London report that some of its staff paid for *** with prostitutes. ?There should be an investigation into other organizations that have been working here since 2010,? said Moise. ?For example, Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained,? he added. It was not clear what cases Moise was referring to. Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders, known as Medecins Sans Frontieres in non-English speaking countries, is looking into Moise?s comments and welcomes scrutiny on the aid sector, said spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organization had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct. On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders, which sends medical staff around the world to regions stricken with war and disease, said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. It did not provide details of where the harassment or abuse took place, who was dismissed or whether the complaints were also registered with local law enforcement. ?Mistakes? Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the centre of the *** abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti but denied paying for *** with prostitutes or abusing minors. In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations. ?We call on the Belgian and UK government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality,? Moise said. ?The dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on.? Haitian Justice Minister Heidi Fortune told Reuters on Wednesday he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken. Belgium?s Justice Ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union. Prostitution is a crime in Haiti, but it was not clear what other crimes the Oxfam officials may have committed. -
Jeffrey Tambor out of Amazon's 'Transparent' over sexual misconduct claims
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Jeffrey Tambor attends "Transparent: an evening with The Pfeffermans" at The Paley Center for Media, New York City, US, September 13, 2017. Image courtesy: WireImage/John Lamparski/Files LOS ANGELES: Jeffrey Tambor, the award-winning star of Amazon Studios television series Transparent, is exiting the show, Amazon said on Thursday, following accusations of sexual misconduct. ?Transparent? star Jeffrey Tambor slapped with second claim of sexual misconduct Alexandra Billings ? a third actor in that particular scene ? was close enough to listen to the actor?s comment and confirmed the validity of the claim Tambor, 73, who denied the accusations when they surfaced last November, will not be returning for the upcoming fifth season of the show, Amazon said. Tambor played the lead role of Maura Pfefferman, a divorced father who transitions to a woman late in life. Tambor could not immediately be reached for comment. -
Fashion industry sets new guidelines to fight sexual misconduct
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Model Bella Hadid presents a creation from the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2018 collection in a show that was presented in Lauren's private garage for New York Fashion Week in Manhattan, New York, US, September 12, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/Files NEW YORK: Ahead of the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), the industry is unveiling new professional guidelines to combat the kind of sexual harassment and assault allegations plaguing some of the world?s most renowned fashion photographers. Designers, show producers, and photographers are asked to provide spaces "where models can change in privacy" at runway shows, according to recommendations sent by Council of Fashion Designers of America president Diane von Furstenberg. Released Thursday, the text referred those who have "in any way felt threatened or unsafe" to resources compiled by the Model Alliance, which combats sexual harassment. "The current climate has been marked by brave women and men and their revelations about an unacceptable culture in politics, sports, and entertainment, as well as in fashion," von Furstenberg said in a message accompanying the guidelines. The CFDA?s move ahead of Monday?s Fashion Week kick-off comes amid the #MeToo movement and the wave of sexual misconduct accusations that have accompanied it, targeting fashion figures including photographers Terry Richardson, Bruce Weber, and Mario Testino. All three once widely celebrated photographers are now barred from collaborating with Vogue and Vanity Fair publisher Conde Nast. Conde Nast recently unveiled a "Code of Conduct" that seeks to "safeguard the dignity and well-being" of workers. It has namely banned the use of unaccompanied models younger than 18, and all shoots involving nudity or sexually suggestive poses must be approved by the subject in advance. Alcohol and illegal drugs also have been barred. The group extended the policy to its entire stable of publications around the world. -
Wynn resigns as RNC finance chair after sexual misconduct allegations
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Steve Wynn ? the chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd and finance chairman of the Republican National Committee's fundraising arm ? reacts at an event. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot1 WASHINGTON: Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn resigned as finance chairman of the Republican Party?s fundraising arm on Saturday, a day after a newspaper reported that he routinely subjected women who worked for him to unwanted sexual advances. ?Today I accepted Steve Wynn?s resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair,? RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement. The billionaire has denied the accusations published by the Wall Street Journal as ?preposterous? and said they were instigated by his ex-wife to seek advantage in their divorce lawsuit. But he said in a statement released on Saturday evening that he was resigning to avoid unnecessary distraction. He also thanked US President Donald Trump for the job. ?The unbelievable success we have achieved must continue,? the statement said. ?The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this distraction.? Steve Wynn ? the chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd and finance chairman of the Republican National Committee's fundraising arm ? speaks to US President Donald Trump. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot As recently as Friday night, Wynn associates were insisting he would fight the charges and remain at the RNC. Instead, he becomes the latest powerful man to pay a price for accusations of sexual misconduct in the United States. The 76-year-old founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd, has been a prominent figure in the casino resort business and onetime rival of Trump. After previously seeking to appear nonpartisan, he threw his support behind Trump during the 2016 campaign and donated money to several Republican causes including the RNC. Trump called Wynn a ?great friend? after he won the Nevada caucus in February 2016, and Wynn was named finance chairman of the committee after Trump became president. US Representative Francis Rooney of Florida is being considered as a replacement, one Republican fundraiser said. The board of directors of Wynn Resorts said on Friday it had met to form a special committee consisting solely of independent directors to investigate the allegations reported by the Journal. The special investigation panel will be chaired by Patricia Mulroy, a member of the board?s corporate governance and compliance committees and a former member of the Nevada Gaming Commission, the board said in a statement. Casino mogul Wynn accused of sexual misconduct: report Wynn denied the allegations, accusing his ex-wife Elaine of instigating the accusations as part of a 'terrible and nasty lawsuit' seeking a revised divorce settlement The Wall Street Journal said former and current company staff members it interviewed had accused Wynn of creating a hostile work environment for women and of regularly pressuring employees to perform *** acts. ?The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous,? Wynn said in a statement on Friday. ?The instigation of these accusations is the continued work of my ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, with whom I am involved in a terrible and nasty lawsuit in which she is seeking a revised divorce settlement.? A spokeswoman for Elaine Wynn, 75, declined comment on Friday, but James Cole ? her Washington-based attorney ? told Reuters the notion that his client fomented the allegations in the Journal article ?is just not true?. After The New York Times revealed in October that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had paid off multiple sexual harassment accusers over decades, it unleashed a wave of accusations against the rich and powerful, leading to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements demanding an end to impunity. Weinstein was long a major donor to Democratic candidates and causes. The scandal prompted McDaniel to urge the Democrats to give back his ?dirty money.? After the Journal published the accusations against Wynn, Democrats, in turn, called on Republicans to return his donations. -
Actor Michael Douglas accused of sexual misconduct in 1980s
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Actor Michael Douglas arrives for the Chaplin Awards at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in the Manhattan borough of New York, US, May 8, 2017. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/Files NEW YORK: A woman on Friday publicly accused Oscar-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas of sexual misconduct, saying he had repeatedly harassed her verbally and fondled himself in front of her when she worked for him in the 1980s. ?He thought he was the king of the world, and that he could humiliate me without any repercussions,? journalist and author Susan Braudy said on NBC News? Today show. Douglas, 73, issued pre-emptive denials of the story in articles published over the last two weeks, including one in which he called it a fabrication. Allen Burry ? his publicist ? said Friday there would be no further comment. The allegations against Douglas were the latest in a lengthy series of accusations by women and men who say they were victimized by high-powered men in the entertainment industry. Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent men to have been accused. Braudy ? a former executive at Warner Bros. studios ? worked for Douglas? production company for three years. She said Douglas repeatedly used sexual language in conversations and that his behaviour escalated during a work meeting at his New York apartment in 1989 where he groped his crotch in front of her. ?He slid down to the floor, unbuckled his belt, and put his hands inside his trousers,? Braudy told NBC News. ?And I could see what he was doing and then he began to fondle himself and I was very scared.? She said she then panicked and ran to the door. She said in the interview that she had told several friends about the incident soon afterwards but was ?terrified? to speak out publicly at the time. In an item published by the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, Douglas called Braudy?s account of an incident at his apartment ?an unfortunate and complete fabrication.? He acknowledged inappropriate discussions, but challenged Braudy?s claims of a hostile workplace, the publication said. Last week, in an interview with the entertainment industry website Deadline, Douglas denied masturbating in front of a woman who worked for him about 30 years ago, without further identifying her. ?I felt the need to get ahead of this,? he told Deadline. He said he learned in December that multiple publications were investigating the claim. Douglas ? who won an Academy Award for best actor in 1988 and for best picture in 1976 ? said he supported the #MeToo movement by those breaking their silence over past sexual harassment or misconduct, and that he had the support of his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and his children. -
Over the last few months, women across the world have come out to support each other in the fight against the sexual misconduct that they have faced by members of the Hollywood fraternity. What started as another 'false accusation' has now turned into a full-fledged movement, with even celebrities coming out to reveal the horrific details of what they have faced in the industry. And adding to this unfortunate list of assaulters is noted comedian Aziz Ansari. A post shared by @azizansari on Aug 21, 2014 at 10:05am PDT News of Aziz's misbehavior with a woman broke out only recently, sending the whole world into frenzy. For the fans of the man who has talked about and supported feminism time and again, this was a major disappointment. The woman, who hasn't revealed her identity yet, revealed details of what exactly happened between her and Aziz in an exclusive interview with the website 'Babe'. The woman is a 23-year-old New York photographer, who says she met him for the first time at the 2017 Emmy Awards after-party and exchanged numbers. © Twitter After a week of exchanging flirtatious messages over the phone, they eventually went out on a date. On September 25, she said she went to Ansari's TriBeCa apartment which was followed up with a dinner at Grand Banks, an oyster bar on a historic wooden schooner on the Hudson River. However, she couldn't help but notice throughout the dinner that Ansari seemed in a rush to get her elsewhere. When the pair returned to his apartment, she said they kissed, but when Ansari told her that he was going to grab a condom within minutes of their first kiss, she said “Whoa, let's relax for a sec, let's chill.'” She claims he then went on to perform oral *** on her and then asked her to reciprocate, which she did as she felt pressured. She also reveals that he kept sticking his fingers down her throat and allegedly kept moving her hand towards his *****. “The move he kept doing was taking his two fingers in a V-shape and putting them in my mouth, in my throat to wet his fingers, because the moment he'd stick his fingers in my throat he'd go straight for my vagina and try to finger me.” She says that she repeatedly tried to voice her discomfort but he didn't exactly take notice. “Most of my discomfort was expressed in me pulling away and mumbling. I know that my hand stopped moving at some points,” she said. “I stopped moving my lips and turned cold.” There was a moment when she thought that he understood her being uncomfortable and things calmed down a bit. But not for long. While they decided to “chill” on the couch for a while, he again motioned for her to go down on him. He then led her from the couch to a different part of his apartment bringing her to a large mirror. He then bent her over and asked her, “Where do you want me to f*** you? Do you want me to f*** you right here?” After that she decided to leave and was again met with aggressive kisses, after which Ansari finally stopped. The next day, before the woman could figure out what to say to Ansari about the date, he allegedly sent her a text message to which she replied with a long message revealing all that she felt. This is the text Grace* sent Aziz Ansari after their date which left her feeling “violated”. She tells Ansari how uncomfortable he made her feel, saying “you ignored clear non-verbal cues” and “kept going with advances.” Read the full story on https://t.co/FyMMG6uO1j. pic.twitter.com/lPOvW6tFTr — babe (@babedotnet) January 14, 2018 She says that it took her a long time to come to terms with whatever happened, however, when she saw him winning the Golden Globes award and supporting the 'Time's Up' movement, she was enraged. © Twitter Aziz has now responded to these allegations with this statement: “In September of last year, I met a woman at a party. We exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth and eventually went on a date. We went out to dinner, and afterwards we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual. The next day, I got a text from her saying that although 'it may have seemed okay,' upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said. I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue.”
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Four former students at the film school Franco founded accused him of exploitative behavior: LA Times LOS ANGELES: Five women have publicly accused Hollywood star James Franco of sexually inappropriate behaviour, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday, just days after the actor triumphed at the Golden Globes. The paper published allegations by four former students at the film school Franco founded who accused him of exploitative behavior including during nude scenes. A fifth woman accused Franco of pressuring her into certain acts while the pair were in a relationship two years ago. The 39-year-old actor and his lawyers have denied the accusations. Sarah Tither-Kaplan, a former student at Franco´s Studio 4 school in North Hollywood, was one of a number of women who took to Twitter in anger after he accepted a Best Actor award for "The Disaster Artist" Sunday night, wearing a "Time´s Up" pin in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment. It "was like a slap in my face," she told the paper. Tither-Kaplan, whom Franco cast as a prostitute in 2015 in an unreleased film, claims she and her female co-stars were asked to appear topless and dance around Franco in an unscripted scene. Franco´s attorney pointed to Tither-Kaplan´s positive social media comments about her experience on the set. Another Franco attorney said she had received no complaints during the movie filming. Tither-Kaplan, who went on to appear in several Franco productions, acknowledged the positive remarks -- and said Franco later apologized for making her feel uncomfortable. But she said the negative experiences were "red flags." Katie Ryan, another former student, said Franco "would always make everybody think there were possible roles on the table if we were to perform sexual acts or take off our shirts." Two other former students told the paper about a strip club scene that both considered unprofessional. Hilary Dusome, 33, said Franco approached the group of actresses and asked, "So, who wants to take your shirt off?" When no one volunteered, Franco stormed off, according to fellow student Natalie Chmiel, 33. Franco´s attorney denied any such request was made. Aspiring screenwriter Violet Paley, 23, told The Times she saw Franco as a mentor when they began a romantic relationship in 2016. On Sunday she called Franco out on social media after the Globes ceremony, publicly recounting an incident in which she says he pressured her. "I just didn´t want him to hate me, so I did it," she told the Times. "The power dynamic was really off." Franco´s attorney described the allegations as "not accurate." On Wednesday the actor denied engaging in sexual misconduct after several accusations surfaced on social media, while voicing his support for the many women coming forward with allegations of wrongdoing following the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
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Actor Michael Douglas makes pre-emptive move to deny sexual misconduct
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Actor Michael Douglas. Photo: Reuters/File LOS ANGELES: Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas has issued a pre-emptive denial of a sexual misconduct accusation, saying he wanted to get ahead of a potential story being investigated by Hollywood publications. In a lengthy interview with entertainment industry website Deadline.com, published late Tuesday, Douglas denied that he had masturbated in front of a woman who worked for him about 32 years ago. ?This is a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever,? Douglas said. The accusation by the unidentified woman has not been published but Douglas said he had been informed by his attorneys in December that The Hollywood Reporter and other publications were investigating her claim. ?I felt the need to get ahead of this,? Douglas, 73, told Deadline. ?I had the choice of waiting for a story to come out, one that will clearly get picked up by other newspapers and magazines, and then I have to sit there and try to defend myself.? The double Oscar-winner is the second celebrity to get his version of events out before being publicly accused of sexual impropriety in a scandal that has rocked Hollywood and led to many men being fired or cut out of projects. Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock posted a social media message last month saying he was ?part of the problem,? saying he had in the past been accused of rape and had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit. Douglas told Deadline he had been informed by his attorney that the woman also accused him of using coarse language around her, but not to her, and claimed that he had ?blackballed? her in the industry after firing her. The actor denied blackballing the women but admitted using ?colourful language? in conversations with friends in his home and office. Douglas said he supported the #MeToo movement by those breaking their silence over past sexual harassment, and that he had the support of his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and his children. Representatives of the actor did not respond on Wednesday to a Reuters request for further comment. -
Hollywood stars declare war on sexual misconduct at Globes
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Reese Witherspoon holds the award for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for "Big Little Lies", HBO, at the 75th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. January 7, 2018. Photo: REUTERS LOS ANGELES: Hollywood spoke with one voice at the Golden Globes on Sunday to declare war on the film industry´s culture of sexual harassment and abuse. The industry's elite turned the red carpet black for the Globes, the glitzy launch of Tinseltown´s awards season, in a fashionable repudiation of disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein and others ensnared in allegations of misconduct. Billed as the most raucous event in the showbiz calendar, the champagne-drenched Hollywood Foreign Press Association´s annual prize-giving is a draw for filmmakers and actors looking to create some buzz ahead of the Oscars in March. But this year´s ceremony, seen as the first big opportunity for the industry to unite and deliver a message about how Hollywood can move forward, struck a more serious tone. "Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have," actress and media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey told the audience at the Beverly Hilton as she accepted a lifetime achievement award. "For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up," she added, earning a standing ovation. Actors and actresses turned out in black in solidarity with victims of Weinstein and numerous other figures exposed by the harassment and abuse scandal, including Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner and Dustin Hoffman. And the overall message was a call for continued change. "People are aware now of a power imbalance. It´s led to abuse in our industry. (...) It´s everywhere," Meryl Streep, who is vying for a Globe for her work in media drama "The Post," told E! network on the red carpet. Fellow Oscar winner Viola Davis added: "It´s all of these women just embracing their authentic voices and standing in solidarity with each other." Seth Meyers, making his debut as Globes host, opened the show with joke after joke about Hollywood´s post-Weinstein reckoning. "It´s 2018, marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn't. It's going to be a good year," the late night NBC funnyman said. "For the male nominees in the room tonight, this is the first time in three months it won´t be terrifying to hear your name read out loud." 'Shape of Water' vs 'The Post' The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton is not as reliable at predicting Oscars glory as the galas held by Hollywood´s acting, producing and directing unions. But it remains one of the most high-profile and glamorous events of the awards calendar and tends to generate more headlines for tipsy tributes and wacky one-liners. Leading the pack this year is Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance "The Shape of Water" with seven nominations, while "The Post" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" went into the night tied for second, with six each. Overall, 25 awards are given out -- 14 for movies and 11 for TV -- and, as usual, the 90-member HFPA has sprung more than a few surprises in the nominations, placing horror satire "Get Out" in the best comedy-musical category. But there were no nominations at all for female filmmakers despite huge successes in 2017 for Greta Gerwig ("Lady Bird"), Patty Jenkins ("Wonder Woman"), Dee Rees ("Mudbound"), Kathryn Bigelow ("Detroit") and Sofia Coppola ("The Beguiled"). Actresses Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley pose with the Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television throphy for ´Big Little Lies´during the 75th Golden Globe Awards on January 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: AFP1 The first film award of the evening went to Sam Rockwell, who took home the best supporting actor in a film prize for crime drama "Three Billboards." He paid tribute to his "actor-friendly" director Martin McDonagh and co-star Frances McDormand, whom he described as "a force of nature." McDonagh also won for best screenplay. But Del Toro took the best director prize. Big night for 'Big Little Lies' While many fields were wide open, James Franco ("The Disaster Artist") was always a shoo-in to win best actor in a musical/comedy movie. Franco -- who also directed the film about Tommy Wiseau´s flop-turned-cult-hit "The Room" -- gave a shoutout to his brother and co-star Dave, telling the gathered celebrities: "I love him more than anything. Thanks to my mother for giving him to me." On the small screen, HBO´s "Big Little Lies" scooped up a rare trio of acting awards for Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern. "I hope we can elicit change through the stories we tell and the way we tell them," said Kidman, who was named best actress in a limited series for her role as an abused wife in the show. Elizabeth Moss speaks after winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Drama "The Handmaid´s Tale" at the 75th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. January 7, 2018. Photo: REUTERS Dern urged Hollywood to support survivors of abuse and to promote restorative justice. "May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture´s new north star," she said. "The Handmaid´s Tale" followed up its Emmys night glory, when it won four statuettes, by beating perennial awards juggernaut "Game of Thrones" to the Globe for best TV series. Its star Elisabeth Moss also took home the prize for best actress in a drama, and thanked Margaret Atwood, who wrote the best-selling dystopian novel on which the Hulu series was based. "Margaret Atwood, this is for you and the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for equality and freedom in this world," Moss said. -
Albert Schultz. Image Courtesy: The Georgia Straight MONTREAL: Four actresses accused Canadian theatre director and actor Albert Schultz of being a "serial sexual predator", the latest in a wave of women going public with past abuses by powerful men. Diana Bentley, Kristin Booth, Patricia Fagan, and Hannah Miller each filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, after which Schultz announced he was stepping down from Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company, which he co-founded, pending the investigation. "For my clients, this pattern of abuse started as soon as they began their careers at Soulpepper," the women's lawyer said. The allegations concern events that took place between 2000 and 2013. "The #MeToo campaign has shown us that for the first time people are listening and that people care," Fagan said, referring to the social media campaign revealing sexual misconduct after allegations of widespread abuse surfaced against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. "There is a window open for women like myself, Diana, Trish and Hannah and all the other women that we have heard from (who) have suffered at Albert's hand and others like him," Booth ? who starred in the series Orphan Black ? added. Two co-founders and two artists under contract with Soulpepper also announced at the press conference that they were resigning in solidarity with the four women. In announcing he was stepping away from his role during the probe, Schultz said, "These claims make serious allegations against me, which I do not take lightly." "Over the coming time period, I intend to vehemently defend myself," he added. The plaintiffs are demanding nearly Can$8 million ($6.4 million US) in damages from both Schultz and the theatre company, according to local media. Other Canadian entertainment figures have also seen sexual harassment allegations force their careers into a nosedive, including producer Gilbert Rozon and Canadian broadcast producer and host Eric Salvail.
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Three more women accuse Dustin Hoffman of sexual misconduct
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
Dustin Hoffman/File photo LOS ANGELES: Three more women have accused Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman of sexual misconduct, Hollywood trade publication Variety reported, bringing to six the number of people accusing him of impropriety decades ago. Variety reported that two of the women said Hoffman sexually assaulted them in 1987. A third woman said he exposed himself to her in 1980, when she was 16, and asked for a foot massage, the Variety report said. In the story, two women went on the record and a third was not identified. Variety quoted Hoffman?s attorney, Mark Neubauer, as saying the accusations were ?defamatory falsehoods.? Neither Neubauer nor Hoffman?s representative immediately replied on Thursday to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the accusations. Three other women have come forward in the last six weeks accusing Hoffman of sexual harassment that they said took place more than 30 years ago. Actress Salma Hayek details harrowing ordeal by 'monster' Weinstein Hoffman issued an apology to the first woman, who was a teenage intern on the set of his 1985 TV film ?Death of a Salesman.? He said in a Nov. 1 statement the behavior the women described was ?not reflective of who I am.? He has declined comment on the other accusations. Hoffman has won Oscars for his roles in ?Rain Man? and ?Kramer vs. Kramer.? -
Chef Mario Batali leaves food empire over sexual misconduct allegations
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
Chef Mario Batali during a preview of the state dinner ? to be held for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini ? at the White House, Washington, US, October 17, 2016. AFP/Nicholas Kamm/Files NEW YORK: Celebrity chef Mario Batali stepped away from his eponymous gastronomic empire Monday after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct over the course of at least two decades. In allegations published by the food website Eater, four women speaking on condition of anonymity said Batali ? recognizable for his generous physique, flaming red ponytail, and signature orange Croc shoes ? groped them and made inappropriate comments. One of the most famous figures in American cuisine, the 57-year-old Italian-American is a popular TV personality whose empire includes 26 establishments nationwide, as well as cookbooks, cookware, and food products. Controlled by private shareholders, the group does not publish its accounts but US media has estimated its worth to be at least $250 million. Three of the women interviewed by Eater worked for Batali?s restaurant conglomerate. The restaurant management Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group told Eater the famous chef was taking leave from the day-to-day management of his company, of which he nevertheless remains a shareholder. The group did not respond to an AFP request for comment. The ABC television network ? which airs Batali?s foodie show The Chew ? said it asked the famous chef to "step away" from the program "while we review the allegations that have just recently come to our attention". "While we are unaware of any type of inappropriate behaviour involving him and anyone affiliated with the show, we will swiftly address any alleged violations of our standards of conduct," an ABC spokesperson told AFP. The accusations come in the wake of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein?s downfall, which triggered a flood of public accusations of harassment, sexual assault or rape against dozens of personalities from the world of entertainment and media, the arts, and politics.