Up next on the list of allegedly bad Hollywood men: Marvel comics legend Stan Lee, who is being sued by a massage therapist in Chicago over accusations of sexual misconduct.
According to Page Six, the plaintiff is one Maria Carballo, who has filed a complaint against Lee and his assistant, Mac Anderson, stemming from two incidents that allegedly took place at the Hyatt Regency in April 2017. Per the complaint, Carballo says she was massaging Lee, 95, in his room when he put his hands on his genitals, and later started moaning in a way that made Carballo uncomfortable, prompting her to end the session early.
Carballo says she was asked back to perform a second massage, and that Lee apologized for his earlier behavior. But as the massage wore on, the suit reads, Lee once again started moaning, and allegedly moved so her feet touched his genitals.
In a statement provided to Page Six, Carballo said she was too intimidated by Lee’s fame and power to report the incident, but was inspired to do so thanks to the #MeToo movement. “For a long time, I was afraid to ask anyone to help me hold Mr. Lee accountable for how he treated me. He is rich and famous. I am not,” the statement read. “After seeing other women fight to be treated with dignity and respect, I decided, me too. I am still nervous and afraid, but not as much as I was before because I have other people helping me.”
The complaint lists a litany of charges, including assault, battery, emotional distress, and the violation of the Illinois Gender Violence Act. Lee’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Earlier this year, the Daily Mail printed accusations of sexual assault against Lee by unnamed sources, who claimed Lee touched and exposed himself to a number of home care nurses. Lee’s legal team denied the allegations.
[Page Six]
The family of Avicii, the Swedish DJ and musician who died in a hotel room in Oman on April 20, has released a statement:
We would like to thank you for the support and the loving words about our son and brother. We are so grateful for everyone who loved Tim’s music and have precious memories of his songs.
Thank you for all the initiatives taken to honor Tim, with public gatherings, church bells ringing out his music, tributes at Coachella and moments of silence around the world.
We are grateful for the privacy during this difficult time. Our wish is that it continues that way.
With love,
The Tim Bergling Family
The Oman police department has not revealed the musician’s cause of death, but says there was “no criminal suspicion.” He was 28.
[Variety]
- Sarah Jessica Parker says she and Kim Cattrall have never had a catfight, sorry dreamers. [Vulture]
- Verne Troyer reportedly had three times the legal amount of alcohol in his system and told 911 operators he was suicidal shortly before he died on Saturday. [TMZ]
- Shania Twain will atone for her pro-Trump statements by, uh, hosting the Canadian Country Music Awards. [The Hollywood Reporter]
- Wait, what, how was I not aware that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton are married??? [People]