Hoffman apologizes after claim of groping
NEW YORK — Hollywood’s sexual harassment crisis reached back 32 years on Wednesday as Oscarwinner Dustin Hoffman apologized for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old intern in 1985.
Writer Anna Graham Hunter alleged in the Hollywood Reporter that the actor, now 80, groped her on the set of TV movie Death of a Salesman and “talked about sex to me and in front of me.”
In a statement, Hoffman apologized for “anything I might have done [that] could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”
Also on Wednesday, film director Brett Ratner was accused of sexual assault or misconduct by six women, including actor Olivia Munn, in a Los Angeles Times report. Munn alleged that, while visiting the set of Ratner’s After the Sunset in 2004, he masturbated in front of her in his trailer. Munn described the incident, without naming Ratner, in a 2010 collection of essays.
Ratner’s lawyer said the director “vehemently denies the outrageous derogatory allegations” and is “confident that his name will be cleared once the current media frenzy dies down and people can objectively evaluate the nature of these claims.”
Ratner directed the Rush Hour film series, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand and Tower Heist. Warner Bros., which has a first-look deal with Ratner, said: “We are aware of the allegations in the L.A. Times and are reviewing the situation.“
The L.A. Times described other encounters in which Ratner allegedly aggressively pursued actresses, sometimes following them into a bathroom.
Ratner and Hoffman became the latest figures to face allegations of misusing their power to harass women, a list that includes producer Harvey Weinstein and writer-director James Toback. Allegations have also been levied against actors Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Piven.
Police in Beverly Hills said on Tuesday they have launched investigations over complaints received about Weinstein and Toback. Weinstein is also being investigated for sexual assault or rape by police in Los Angeles, New York and London. Weinstein has denied engaging in any nonconsensual sexual contact.
Dozens of women, including actors Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams, have alleged that Toback sexually harassed or assaulted them. Toback has denied the allegations.
Netflix suspended production on its final season of House of Cards on Tuesday amid allegations that its star, Spacey, made a sexual advance on actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when he was 14.
The decision to pause production Tuesday came before a second actor levelled allegations against Spacey. Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos wrote on his Facebook page that he encountered Spacey in the bar of London’s Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004 to 2015, and the actor tried to fondle him against his will.
There was no reply to a request for comment from representatives for Spacey.
CBS has said it is “looking into” accusations by actor Ariane Bellamar that Entourage star Piven groped her. Piven said he “unequivocally” denied the “appalling allegations.”