‘I’ve never forced myself on any woman,’ says BBC actor after rape claims
A BBC actor insisted last night that he is not a rapist, after a woman claimed that he forced himself on her while she napped in his guest bedroom.
Ed Westwick, 30, who will star in a BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Ordeal By Innocence next month, issued a statement denying the allegation.
His statement, which he published on his various social media channels last night, said: “I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.”
It came after Kristina Cohen, a 27-year-old actress, alleged on Monday that Westwick had sexually assaulted her at his home three years ago.
Writing on Facebook, Cohen claimed she had gone to nap in Westwick’s spare room, after feeling tired.
She said: “I said I was tired and wanted to leave, trying to get out of what was already an uncomfortable situation. Ed suggested I nap in the guest bedroom.”
Cohen went on to allege that she fell asleep and awoke to Westwick sexually assaulting her.
“I told him to stop, but he was strong,” she said. “I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to f--- me. I was paralysed, terrified. I couldn’t speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.”
She said she felt moved to speak out after the Harvey Weinstein scandal, but had “buried” her pain and guilt at the time.
It is unclear where the alleged assault took place. Westwick grew up in Hammersmith, west London, but lived in New York while filming for Gossip Girl. When the series finished in 2012, he reportedly moved to Los Angeles.
Emptage Hallett, Westwick’s agent, told The Daily Telegraph that Stanton Stein, his lawyer in Los Angeles, is handling all inquiries relating to the allegations. Mr Stein did not respond to requests for comment last night.
The BBC has also declined to comment on the allegations. The corporation is investigating 25 cases of alleged sexual harassment after a “spike” in employees coming forward with complaints. George Riley, the Radio 5 Live presenter, has been suspended after a number of women complained about his behaviour.