Hoffman faces new claims of harassing writer for sex

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

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

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

In the latest allegation, scriptwriter, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis claimed that in 1991 she met Hoffman and Tootsie screenwriter Murray Schisgal for talks on turning her play into a film. She said she was asked to rewrite it for ‘someone Hoffman’s age’ but never discussed it at a second meeting.

Writing in Variety, she claimed he said: ‘Let me ask you oe 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.

A spokesman for Kevin Spacey said the actor is ‘seeking treatment’ following a string of allegations from men who say they were sexually harassed by him. ‘Kevin is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment,’ he said.