These Famous People Have Been Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

In February 2021, actress Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused musician Marilyn Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, of grooming and abusing her for years. Wood also shared similar accusations made by four other women against Manson. The musician denied all allegations but was subsequently sued by Ashley Morgan Smithline, who accused him of sex trafficking and sexual abuse. Another alleged victim filed a lawsuit in January 2023, focusing on sex crimes allegedly committed by Manson at the beginning of his career and naming his former labels Interscope and Nothing Records as defendants.

Manson attempted to sue Evan Rachel Wood for defamation, but most of his case was dismissed by a California judge on May 9. The accusations and lawsuits have led to significant fallout for the musician and sparked a broader discussion about abuse and enabling in the entertainment industry.

Donald Trump was found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle advice columnist. The jury ordered him to pay US$5 million in damages for both offenses. This marks the first time Trump has been legally held responsible for sexual misconduct, despite numerous allegations of sexual assault by other women.

Carroll's suit alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman in New York City three decades ago, causing severe injury and lasting psychological harm. Trump denied the allegations, claiming he had never met her, despite photographs of them together. The US Department of Justice's lawyers initially argued Trump was legally immune due to his presidential status when he made public denials in 2019 but later withdrew this argument. The lawsuit will proceed to trial in January 2024.

Former child star of 'Zoey 101' fame, Alexa Nikolas, recently took to Twitter to accuse actor Jonah Hill of sexual misconduct. She claimed that when she was 16, at a party at Justin Long's house, Hill forcefully kissed her against her will. Hill's attorney denied the allegations, referring to them as a "complete fabrication." These accusations surfaced following Hill's ex-girlfriend, Sarah Brady, accusing him of emotional abuse and describing him as a "misogynist narcissist."

Actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in 'That '70s Show,' was found guilty of two out of three counts of forcible rape in his Los Angeles retrial. The retrial occurred after three women accused him of assaulting them between 2001-2003 during the #MeToo revelations. In 2022, a mistrial was declared as the jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision on all counts. However, a new trial was ordered in April 2023, and this time, evidence of Masterson drugging the alleged victims was presented by the prosecution.

Throughout the proceedings, Masterson had significant support from the Church of Scientology, of which he is a prominent member. All three accusers were former members of the church and claimed they were threatened into silence about the alleged crimes. On May 31, the guilty verdict was delivered, and Masterson was taken into custody. He now awaits sentencing and could face up to 30 years in prison for his convictions.

In 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court shocked the public by overturning Bill Cosby's 2018 conviction for multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, leading to his release after serving less than three years in prison. The court's decision was based on the unfair use of testimony from a different civil case against him. Despite facing numerous allegations of sexual assault from multiple women, Cosby was only convicted for actions against one victim.

In the same year, Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault in a civil trial involving another accuser, Judy Huth. Huth testified that Cosby assaulted her when she was 16 years old at a party in the Playboy mansion in 1975. Cosby's defense attempted to challenge Huth's credibility, but she came forward after witnessing numerous other women making similar allegations against him. Though Cosby did not appear in court, his 2015 video deposition was used, where he claimed not to remember Huth. The jury ruled in favor of Huth, ordering Cosby to pay her $500,000 in damages. The case added to the impact of the broader accusations against the once-celebrated entertainer.

Kevin Spacey, once a prominent actor, faced a dramatic fall from grace during the #MeToo era due to multiple accusations of sexual misconduct in the US. Although he escaped criminal charges in the US, he was charged with sexually assaulting four men in the UK. His trial began in London on June 30, 2023, and after a week, four of the charges were dropped due to a "legal technicality." However, Spacey still faces nine serious charges that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The defense argued that all interactions with the alleged victims were consensual, asserting that it is not a crime to have sex, even for a famous person. The prosecution presented detailed testimonies from each of the men, depicting Spacey as an aggressive predator who disregards physical boundaries and consent. The trial is poised to determine the actor's fate amid a high-profile case that highlights issues of power dynamics and consent.

In her new memoir titled 'Love, Pamela,' Pamela Anderson alleges that Tim Allen, her co-star on 'Home Improvement,' flashed her on the set in 1991 when she was 23 years old. Anderson claims that Allen opened his robe, revealing himself naked, and stated it was fair since he had seen her naked due to her Playboy modeling. Allen, who was 37 at the time, denies the incident, saying it never happened and that he would never do such a thing. Anderson's memoir recounts her journey from a small-town Vancouver Island girl to becoming an international sex symbol, with this claim being one of many explosive revelations in her book.

On June 10, 2023, musician María Elena Ríos accused actor Tenoch Huerta, known for his role as Namor in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' of sexual abuse. Ríos posted on Twitter, expressing the difficulty of revealing the emotional abuse and sexual misconduct by Huerta, who is beloved internationally. Ríos cited the fear of speaking out in Mexico, a "macho country" where justice may be unattainable and her story dismissed.

In response, Huerta denied the allegations a few days later, stating that he and Ríos had a consensual and loving relationship for several months. He claimed that after their breakup, Ríos began misrepresenting their interactions to mutual friends. Despite the denial, Huerta chose to step down from a Netflix movie he was working on due to the impact of the accusations on his reputation. His focus now is on restoring his image amid the controversy.

In 2021, Armie Hammer faced serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse from a woman who claimed to have been in an on-and-off relationship with him for four years, including an alleged violent sexual assault in 2017. Despite Hammer's vehement denial of the sexual violence accusations, other accusers also came forward, leading to his ostracization from Hollywood, and he hasn't worked since 2021.

After a two-year investigation, on May 31, 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced that they had chosen not to prosecute Hammer. Citing the complexity of the relationship and the inability to prove a non-consensual, forcible sexual encounter, the statement carefully explained the decision. Hammer interpreted the news as a vindication of his innocence and took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the District Attorney, vowing to begin the challenging process of rebuilding his life now that his name has been cleared.

In February 2019, the singer R. Kelly was arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated assault, leading to his incarceration in a Chicago jail. As the trial progressed, more charges, including allegations of child pornography and sex trafficking, were added, bringing the total to 21. During the trial, numerous women came forward to share harrowing stories of sexual, physical, and mental abuse they endured over nearly two decades at the hands of R. Kelly.The testimonies revealed that Kelly ran an enterprise involving managers, bodyguards, and other employees who recruited women and underage girls for sex. In September 2021, he was found guilty of sexually abusing multiple women and children, as well as sex trafficking and racketeering. On June 29, 2022, he received a 30-year prison sentence for his crimes. The judge described Kelly as displaying "indifference to human suffering." Survivors expressed relief and satisfaction with the verdict, feeling that justice had been served after enduring years of abuse and fighting for accountability.