Portia de Rossi Describes Casting Couch Sexual Harassment From Steven Seagal
One of the stories unfolding alongside theĀ avalanche of sexual-assault and harassmentĀ allegations against Harvey Weinstein is the emerging pattern of abuse from actor Steven Seagal. The latest woman to come forward is Portia de Rossi, who shared a very uncomfortable casting-couch story about Seagal on Twitter today.
Steven Seagal
Over the weekend,Ā Julianna MarguliesĀ said the actor once baited her to a late-night āauditionā in his New York hotel room on the condition that the female casting agent setting up the encounter would also be present. The woman never showed up, leaving Margulies alone with Seagal, who started showing her his gun, but she was able to leave before anything happened. Actress Lisa Guerrero also recentlyĀ told the Los AngelesĀ TimesĀ about a similar experience with Seagal, but in her case the female casting agent was present, and he greeted both of them at his front door wearing nothing but a silky robe. In 1998, Jenny McCarthy accused Seagal of repeatedly telling her to take off her clothes during a casting session forĀ Under Siege 2, and a former assistant onceĀ sued him for sexual harassmentĀ andĀ trafficking women for sex, though she laterĀ dropped the charges.
Portia De Rossi (“Ally McBeal”)
Like Margulies, the allegations made by de Rossi get at one of the biggest systemic issues being laid bare as the culture of sexual harassment in Hollywood is confronted: theĀ complicityĀ orĀ indifferenceĀ of talent agencies, representatives, and support staff in allowing abuse to happen. Weinstein assistants were frequentlyĀ used as honeypotsĀ in encounters described by hisĀ more than 50 accusers. Rachel McAdams saysĀ she was given no warningĀ about James Tobackās reputation before being sent to audition with him, and when she complained to her agent after being assaulted by him, was told, āI canāt believe he did it again. This isnāt the first time that this has happened.ā And now in de Rossiās account, her complaint was greeted with a response of, āI didnāt know if he was your type.ā Stay tuned, because this story likely has a long way to go.