Stan Lee denies sexually harassing nurses

Marvel Comics patriarch Stan Lee has strenuously denied allegations that he sexually harassed care nurses visiting his home in the Hollywood Hills.

The 95-year-old, who created iconic characters including Spiderman and the X-Men, had reportedly been paying $1,000 for 24-hour access to nurses until the care provider withdrew its services following a “string of complaints” about Lee’s behaviour, Mail Online reports.

Employees “complained he demanded oral sex from them, groped them and walked around naked”, Mail Online reports.

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A source told the news site that Lee “has seemingly lost his way”. “He's lost his filter,” the insider said. “There has been a stream of young nurses coming to his house in West Hollywood and he has been sexually harassing them. He finds it funny.”

However, a spokesperson for Lee said the allegations were a “false and despicable” attack on Lee’s “stellar good name and impeccable reputation”, and implied that the claims were financially motivated.

“Mr Lee has received demands to pay money and threats that if he does not do so, the accuser will go to the media,” their statement said. “Mr Lee will not be extorted or blackmailed, and will pay no money to anyone because he has done absolutely nothing wrong.”

A spokesperson for Lee’s current care provider said the former Marvel chairman had been “polite, kind and respectful” to their staff, Page Six reports.

Lee is a familiar face not only to comic book enthusiasts, but also to eagle-eyed fans of Marvel superhero movies.

Beginning with X-Men in 2000, Lee has had a bit part in all but a handful of Marvel movie adaptations, including an unspecified role in the upcoming Black Panther movie, which hits UK cinemas on 12 February.