‘X-Men’ director Bryan Singer sued for raping 17-year-old boy
He supposedly forced himself on to Cesar Sanchez-Guzman and physically assaulted him in 2003
PHOTO: FILE
X-Men director Bryan Singer is being sued for supposedly forcing himself on to 17-year-old Cesar Sanchez-Guzman and raping him during a yacht party in 2003. Subsequently, Singer issued a statement in which he vigorously denied all the claims, reported Daily Mail.
The lawsuit, filed by Sanchez-Guzman's attorney Jeff Herman, alleges that Singer was at a party with young gay men on tech investor Lester Waters' yacht in Seattle in 2003. It claims that Singer offered to take a Guzman on a tour of the yacht but when they got to one of the rooms, the director allegedly forced the teen to the floor.
Singer allegedly forced himself on to Sanchez-Guzman, who repeatedly told him to stop, before he was raped by Singer, according to the lawsuit. The suit further states that Singer later threatened Guzman, telling him he was a powerful Hollywood producer and that he could hire people to ruin his reputation. No one would believe him if he came forward anyway but if he kept quiet he would help his acting career.
Guzman is suing for emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical and mental pain. However, Singer's representative stated that Herman had a history of representing false claims against the director and had even been sued for malicious prosecution. Singer’s representative told People magazine, 'Bryan categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end.”
He continued, “Cesar Sanchez-Guzman apparently claims that he did not remember this alleged incident from 2003 until now. Significantly, when Sanchez-Guzman filed for bankruptcy only a few years ago, he failed to disclose this alleged claim when he was supposed to identify all of his assets but conveniently, now that the bankruptcy court discharged all of his debts, he is able to recall the alleged events.”
Herman previously represented Michael Egan, who accused Singer and other Hollywood figures of sexual assault in 2014, only to later withdraw the claims. He was sentenced to two years in jail in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme in 2015.
The lawsuit was filed just days after Singer was fired from the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He had taken an unexpected leave of absence a few weeks before filming was set to wrap up on the project, leaving Twentieth Century Fox in the lurch.
The decision to fire Singer came after he reportedly disputed with multiple actors on the set according to The Hollywood Reporter, forcing the film company to remove him from the venture.
Just last month, a group of students at the University of Southern California had demanded that Singer's name be removed from the film school, complaining that they didn't want someone 'accused multiple times of sexual harassment, assault and pedophilia' to be connected with their school.
New claims against Singer also began to emerge in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal and ‘MeToo’ campaign, including allegations made by a young man who said that the director touched him inappropriately over a decade ago.
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The lawsuit, filed by Sanchez-Guzman's attorney Jeff Herman, alleges that Singer was at a party with young gay men on tech investor Lester Waters' yacht in Seattle in 2003. It claims that Singer offered to take a Guzman on a tour of the yacht but when they got to one of the rooms, the director allegedly forced the teen to the floor.
Singer allegedly forced himself on to Sanchez-Guzman, who repeatedly told him to stop, before he was raped by Singer, according to the lawsuit. The suit further states that Singer later threatened Guzman, telling him he was a powerful Hollywood producer and that he could hire people to ruin his reputation. No one would believe him if he came forward anyway but if he kept quiet he would help his acting career.
Guzman is suing for emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical and mental pain. However, Singer's representative stated that Herman had a history of representing false claims against the director and had even been sued for malicious prosecution. Singer’s representative told People magazine, 'Bryan categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end.”
He continued, “Cesar Sanchez-Guzman apparently claims that he did not remember this alleged incident from 2003 until now. Significantly, when Sanchez-Guzman filed for bankruptcy only a few years ago, he failed to disclose this alleged claim when he was supposed to identify all of his assets but conveniently, now that the bankruptcy court discharged all of his debts, he is able to recall the alleged events.”
Herman previously represented Michael Egan, who accused Singer and other Hollywood figures of sexual assault in 2014, only to later withdraw the claims. He was sentenced to two years in jail in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme in 2015.
The lawsuit was filed just days after Singer was fired from the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He had taken an unexpected leave of absence a few weeks before filming was set to wrap up on the project, leaving Twentieth Century Fox in the lurch.
The decision to fire Singer came after he reportedly disputed with multiple actors on the set according to The Hollywood Reporter, forcing the film company to remove him from the venture.
Just last month, a group of students at the University of Southern California had demanded that Singer's name be removed from the film school, complaining that they didn't want someone 'accused multiple times of sexual harassment, assault and pedophilia' to be connected with their school.
New claims against Singer also began to emerge in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal and ‘MeToo’ campaign, including allegations made by a young man who said that the director touched him inappropriately over a decade ago.
Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.