Michael Douglas pre-emptively denies sexual harassment claim


Actor Michael Douglas told Deadline on Tuesday that at least one publication is working on an article relaying accusations from a former employee that he used lewd language in front of her and masturbated in front of her 32 years ago. Douglas said he "was uncomfortable waiting to be the villain in a narrative crafted by either The Hollywood Reporter or Variety," Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. writes, and he reached out to deny the allegations. "The accusation story will most likely follow elsewhere, but in this moment of 'she said, he said' trial by journalism, it was never specified whose version had to be first," Fleming noted, then printed his interview with Douglas.
Douglas said the unidentified "lady who was involved in development at my company" told The Hollywood Reporter that he "used colorful language in front of her, not at her," that "in conversations I had in front of her, on the phone, that I spoke raunchily, or dirtily with friends of mine," that he had "blackballed her from the industry," and that he'd "masturbated in front of her." He said he did dismiss her because her area of production wasn't performing well, and "if people from the industry called me to ask about her, I would have been honest, but I never blackballed her."
Douglas confessed to using "colorful language" and apologized "if I used coarse language with my friends," but he called the masturbation claim "a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever." Masturbating in front of female employees is "something I've only heard about the last year," he said. Douglas unequivocally denied harassing the woman or any other woman in his 50-year career, said he supports "the #MeToo movement with all my heart," and complained about the lack of "due process." You can read his entire pre-emptive denial at Deadline.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Japan's surname conundrum
Under the Radar Law requiring couples to share one surname hinders women in the workplace and lowers birth rate, campaigners claim
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Music reviews: Bruce Springsteen and Benson Boone
Feature "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" and "American Heart"
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read