Hoffman faces new claims of harassing young movie writer for sex

DUSTIN Hoffman faced further allegations of sleazy behaviour yesterday after a TV writer and producer claimed he rejected her script when she refused to go to a hotel with him.

Wendy Riss Gatsiounis, who was in her 20s at the time, said she had to repeatedly rebuff the Hollywood star’s advances as he asked whether she had ever been intimate with a ‘man over 40’.

The allegation comes after another writer claimed Hoffman was a ‘predator’, having groped her and asked for a foot massage when she was 17-year-old intern on the set of a TV film.

Hoffman, 80, pictured, is the latest star to be caught up in the Hollywood sex scandal in the wake of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s downfall.

While struggling to make it as a scriptwriter in her twenties, Miss Riss Gatsiounis said she finally thought she had her big break in 1 1. Hoffman, then 53, and Tootsie screenwriter Murray Schisgal agreed to meet her for talks on turning her play A Darker Purpose into a film. She claims she was asked to rewrite it for ‘someone Hoffman’s age’ but never got to discuss it at a second meeting.

Writing in Variety, she claimed the first thing he said was: ‘Before you start, let me ask you one question, Wendy – have you ever been intimate with a man over 40?’

She said she tried to laugh off the comment but he persisted. ‘I’ll never forget,’ she said. ‘He moves back, he opens his arms, and he says, “It would be a whole new body to explore”.’

Hoffman is alleged to have then asked her to accompany him to a nearby hotel ‘to do some clothing shopping’ and left when she refused. Schisgal then told her they were not interested in her script.

Miss Riss Gatsiounis said the experience was ‘a source of torment’ and added: ‘He had been my hero.’

Variety said a spokesman for Hoffman declined to comment, while Schisgal said he did not recall the meeting.

KEVIN Spacey is ‘seeking treatment’ following a string of allegations from men who say they were sexually harassed by the two-time Oscar winner.

A spokesman for the 58-year-old actor, who was criticised for announcing he was gay at the same time the accusations emerged, said: ‘Kevin is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.’