Hollywood alums Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate and All the President’s Men) and Brett Ratner (The Revenant and Prison Break) now have accusations of sexual misconduct coming out against them. Hoffman has been accused of harassment, and Ratner of full-fledged assault.
Writer Anna Graham Hunter gave her story to The Hollywood Reporter, saying that in 1985, when she was just 17, Hoffman continuously harassed her on the set of Death of a Salesman. Hunter claims that Hoffman groped her repeatedly, and often made lewd comments to and around her during her five weeks on set. Hunter also says she was told by a supervisor to put up with Hoffman’s behavior for the sake of production.
Hoffman has since responded to the article, saying: “I have the utmost respect for women and I feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”
Ratner, on the other hand, has now been accused by six different women of sexual harassment and assault. Olivia Munn (The Newsroom and X-Men) told the Los Angeles Times of her numerous encounters with Ratner. On the set of Ratner’s After the Sunset, Munn tells of how when delivering a meal to him, Ratner proceeded to touch himself inappropriately as she entered his trailer. Munn had told this story in a 2010 essay, but did not name Ratner. Later on, Ratner identified himself as the director in question on TV, going so far as to claim he had sex with Munn, though later going back on that statement.
Natasha Henstridge (The Whole Nine Yards and Species) also detailed her Ratner story. When she was a 19-year-old fashion model, her and some friends had been at Ratner’s New York apartment to watch movies. The next morning, it was only Henstridge and Ratner. She says the he blocked the door as she attempted to leave, began touching himself inappropriately and then forced her into performing oral sex on him. “He physically forced himself on me,” Henstridge said. “At some point, I gave in, and he did his thing.”
Ratner’s attorney, categorically disputed the claims of Munn, Henstridge and the four other women.
Sources: The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times
Image: Hollywood Reporter, Grazia
