Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE/ARTS Thursday 2 November 2017
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Hollywood sex accusations now levied at Ratner, Hoffman

By MARK KENNEDY But Playboy Enterprises its final season of "House
AP Entertainment Writers shelved any of its projects of Cards" on Tuesday amid
NEW YORK (AP) — Holly- that involved Ratner, in- allegations star Spacey
wood's widening sexual cluding working on a bi- made a sexual advance
harassment crisis has en- opic of Hugh Hefner, which on actor Anthony Rapp in
snared a prominent film di- was to star Jared Leto. "We 1986 when he was 14.
rector after six women — in- are deeply troubled to The decision to pause pro-
cluding actress Olivia Munn learn about the accusa- duction Tuesday came
— accused Brett Ratner of tions against Brett Ratner. before a second actor lev-
sexual assault or miscon- We find this kind of be- eled allegations against
duct in a Los Angeles Times havior completely unac- Spacey.
report on Wednesday. ceptable," according to a Mexican actor Roberto
Playboy Enterprises quickly statement. Cavazos wrote on his Face-
distanced itself from Ratner book page that he encoun-
as his attorney denied the Ratner and Hoffman be- tered Spacey at the bar of
allegations. come the latest Hollywood London's Old Vic Theatre,
The reverberations also figures to face allegations where Spacey was artistic In this Aug. 2, 2017 file photo, Dustin Hoffman arrives at the
reached back 32 years as of misusing their power director from 2004-15, and Hollywood Foreign Press Association Grants Banquet in Beverly
Oscar-winner Dustin Hoff- to harass actresses, a list the actor tried to fondle Hills, Calif.
man came forward to that now includes produc- him against his will. Associated Press
apologize for allegedly sex- er Harvey Weinstein and Cavazos declined an inter-
ually harassing a 17-year- writer-director James To- view request. There was no dismay" at the allegations is "looking into" accusa-
old intern in 1985. back. Harassment allega- reply to a request for com- and said "inappropriate tions by actress and reality
Writer Anna Graham Hunt- tions have also been levied ment from representatives behavior by anyone work- star Ariane Bellamar that
er alleged in a Wednesday against actors Kevin Spac- for Spacey. ing at The Old Vic is com- Emmy-winning "Entourage"
column in The Hollywood ey and Jeremy Piven. In a statement Tuesday, the pletely unacceptable." star Piven groped her on
Reporter that the now Police in Beverly Hills on theater expressed "deep Also Tuesday, CBS said it two occasions.q
80-year-old actor groped Tuesday announced they
her on the set of TV movie have launched criminal
"Death of a Salesman" and investigations over com-
"talked about sex to me plaints received about
and in front of me." Weinstein and Toback.
Hoffman issued a state- Weinstein also is being in-
ment Wednesday, apolo- vestigated for sexual as-
gizing for "anything I might sault or rape by police in
have done could have put Los Angeles, New York and
her in an uncomfortable London.
situation. I am sorry. It is not Weinstein has denied en-
reflective of who I am." gaging in any non-con-
sensual sexual contact. His
Munn also complained representative, Sallie Hof-
about onset behavior, al- meister, had no comment
leging that while visiting on the Beverly Hills investi-
the set of Ratner's "After the gation.
Sunset" in 2004, he mastur- The department said late
bated in front of her in his Tuesday that it was inves-
trailer. Munn described the tigating Weinstein and To-
incident, without naming back after receiving "mul-
Ratner, in a 2010 collection tiple complaints," although
of essays. the department did not
Ratner's lawyer issued a specify the nature of the
statement Wednesday in complaints.
which he said the direc- Dozens of women, includ-
tor "vehemently denies the ing actresses Selma Blair
outrageous derogatory and Rachel McAdams,
allegations" and is "confi- have alleged that Toback
dent that his name will be sexually harassed or as-
cleared once the current saulted them.
media frenzy dies down Toback has denied the
and people can objec- allegations. He does not
tively evaluate the nature have a representative to
of these claims." field inquiries about the
Ratner directed the "Rush criminal investigation.
Hour" film series, "Red Drag- Repercussions have been
on," ''X-Men: The Last Stand" swift after allegations
and "Tower Heist." Warner against Weinstein surfaced.
Bros., which has a first-look Weinstein was fired from
deal with Ratner, said in a the company he founded
statement: "We are aware within days after initial re-
of the allegations in the LA ports of sexual harassment
Times and are reviewing were published and Netflix
the situation." suspended production on