Actress Dushku says she was abused at age 12
PASADENA, Calif. — Actress
Eliza Dushku says she was sexually molested at age 12 by a stunt coordinator during production of the 1994 film “True Lies.”
In a post on her Facebook account Saturday, Dushku also alleged that Joel Kramer, then 36, caused her to be injured on the set as payback for disclosing the alleged misconduct to a friend. Kramer denied the accusations as “lies” in trade publication interviews.
“These are outlandish, manipulated lies,” Kramer told the website Deadline. “I never sexually molested her. … I think she’s making this up in her imagination.”
“True Lies” filmmaker James Cameron said he was unaware of what he called Dushku’s “heartbreaking” experience and lauded her as “very brave” for speaking up.
“Had I known about it, there would have been no mercy,” said Cameron, who was taking part in a Q&A session with TV critics Saturday to promote a new TV show. “Now, especially when I have daughters, there really is no mercy.”
Dushku joins the growing ranks of those alleging sexual misconduct in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The allegations against the movie mogul, which he has denied, and other Hollywood and media figures gave rise to the #Metoo protest movement.
In her post, Dushku said she shared what occurred at the time with her parents, two adult friends and an older brother, adding that no one “seemed ready to confront this taboo subject then, nor was I.”