Zeta-Jones ‘devastated’ by husband sex claims
HOLLYWOOD superstar Catherine Zeta-Jones has told how she was “devastated” by sexual harassment allegations made against her husband Michael Douglas.
In January, a former employee of Douglas accused the star of performing a sexual act in front of her at a script meeting in 1989.
Zeta-Jones said she had a “very big conversation” with Douglas, 74, with their children in the same room, after the accusations were made.
As a supporter of the #MeToo movement, the 49-year-old Swansea-born star told the Sunday Times: “I was torn about where my absolute morals lie.
“This woman came out of nowhere and accused my husband. I had a very big conversation with him, with the kids in the room, and said, ‘Do you understand if more comes out…?’.”
Explaining how Douglas had reassured the family about the claims, she said: “By telling us that there is no story here and that time will tell. And, of course, it did. There was nothing to back it up at all. For any accusation that comes out that isn’t backed up, that knocks the movement back 20 years.”
Douglas had denied the sexual harassment allegations made against him in January this year, saying: “This is a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever.”
And the actress also spoke about their high-profile marriage, which this year marks 18 years since tying the knot.
Zeta-Jones admitted she and Douglas have had ups “and downs in our marriage”, but went on to say: “I don’t throw the towel in very quickly on anything.”
After the couple took a break in 2013, she said they had come back stonger with a “much more appreciative view of who we both are and what we independently bring to this relationship”.
While the glitz of Hollywood might be a world away from south Wales, the star also talked fondly of her native city despite having four homes in New York state, Manhattan, Canada and Mallorca.
She is a staunch Swansea City supporter and said she was “p **** d” after the team was relegated from the Premiership this year.
Zeta-Jones said she returns “once a year” to Swansea.
“It’s not as much as I used to,” she said, “but my parents like to come here [America].”
She also spoke about loving the Welsh language, but not being able to speak it, and to being a “cheeky little bugger” to her Welsh teacher by telling her once in class: “I love Welsh, but once I get off a plane I can’t speak it.”