Director of The Rip Joe Carnahan accused of sexual battery and stalking by ex-girlfriend

Director of Netflix film The Rip starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Joe Carnahan faces sexual battery allegations

Michelle Crosby, a 45-year-old attorney, filed a cross-complaint alleging that Carnahan, 56, subjected her to repeated physical assaults during their four-year relationship. The allegations were first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, which reviewed the legal documents.

According to Crosby’s filing, the couple began dating in 2020, after which Carnahan allegedly encouraged her to move from Manhattan to Los Angeles. Crosby claims the relationship deteriorated soon after her relocation and became physically abusive.

The court documents describe multiple alleged incidents, including choking, shoving Crosby into a Christmas tree, pinning her beneath his body, and striking her through a sofa cushion. One alleged incident detailed in the filing occurred in a hotel room in 2024, where Crosby claims a consensual encounter escalated into violence. She alleges Carnahan pulled her hair forcefully despite her protests, resulting in permanent scalp damage and hair loss. Crosby states she reported the incident to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.

The allegations appear in a cross-complaint responding to a lawsuit filed by Carnahan, who claims Crosby damaged a Porsche vehicle he had lent her. Crosby alleges the incidents form part of a broader pattern of physical violence and intimidation.

Carnahan has denied all accusations. His attorney, Wendy Slavkin, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that the relationship was consensual and ended in spring 2024. Slavkin added that Carnahan has not had contact with Crosby outside of court proceedings and claimed similar allegations were dismissed in July 2025. She further stated that Carnahan sought a permanent restraining order against Crosby.

Carnahan recently directed The Rip, a Netflix crime thriller inspired by a 2016 Miami-Dade narcotics raid. The film reportedly amassed more than 41 million views within its first three days of release in January. Crosby filed her cross-complaint prior to the film’s promotional tour.