Actor Michael Douglas makes pre-emptive move to deny sexual misconduct
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 an interview with entertainment industry website Deadline. com, Douglas denied that he had pleasured himself in front of a woman who worked for him about 32 years ago. “This is a complete lie,” Douglas said.
The accusation 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.”
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 woman but admitted using “colorful 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.