Oh man, this one’s a doozy. A lawsuit was filed in Hawaii this week against X-Men director Brian Singer, claiming that he had sexually abused a 15-year-old aspiring actor at a party in Hollywood. This event apparently took place in the late 1990s and the victim is now in his 30s, which makes the whole thing kind of bizarre but not automatically untrue.
From the New York Daily News:
Singer had promised Egan a role in one of his movies and had numerous sexual encounters with the boy when he was 15 and 16, Herman told The News. Singer also allegedly brought Egan to Hawaii for multiple extended trips when he was 17.
The suit does not specifically demand a monetary figure, but states that the damages suffered warrant in excess of $75,000. In response, Marty Singer, a lawyer for the director, said “it is obvious that this case was filed in an attempt to get publicity,” given that the newest installment of the “X-Men” franchise, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” hits theaters May 23.
“The claims made against Bryan Singer are completely without merit,” the statement added. “We are very confident that Bryan will be vindicated in this absurd and defamatory lawsuit.”
Singer gave “an alcoholic beverage . . . and mentioned finding a role for him in an upcoming movie that he was directing,” the suit says. “Defendant Singer told plaintiff how ‘this group’ controls Hollywood.”
“Singer masturbated plaintiff and then performed oral sex upon him. Defendant Singer solicited plaintiff to perform oral sex upon him, which plaintiff resisted,” the suit says.
“Singer flagrantly disregarded plaintiff’s unwillingness to submit, and forced plaintiff’s head underwater to make plaintiff perform oral sex upon him. When plaintiff pulled his head out of the water in order to breathe, defendant Singer demanded that he continue which plaintiff refused,” the suit went on. “Defendant Singer then forced plaintiff to continue performing oral sex upon him outside of the pool, and subsequently forcibly sodomized plaintiff.”
Huh. I do agree that this definitely seems like a publicity attempt, but so many sexual assault victims are brushed off and it shouldn’t matter how long after the fact this happened that he comes forward, if it’s true – there is no statute of limitations on being abused. However, I really do hope the truth comes out on this – how awful!