Attorneys for famed illusionist David Copperfield have denied accusations made by 16 girls in a brand new report alleging decades-spanning sexual misconduct and inappropriate conduct.
Greater than half the ladies making allegations in a Guardian U.S. investigation revealed Tuesday mentioned that they have been youngsters on the time of the alleged incidents, which vary from the late Eighties to 2014 and embody claims that the magician drugged three girls earlier than he had sexual relations with them — relations to which they felt they have been unable to consent. 4 of the ladies alleged they have been groped or have been made to the touch the entertainer “in a sexual means throughout reside performances on stage,” the report mentioned.
Copperfield’s attorneys informed the publication that the allegations are “not solely utterly false but in addition fully implausible.”
Denying any wrongdoing of any form, the 67-year-old’s authorized representatives as an alternative described him as a champion of the #MeToo motion and mentioned he “by no means acted inappropriately with anybody, not to mention anybody underage.” They mentioned a “truthful” depiction of Copperfield would describe his “kindness, shyness and therapy of women and men with respect.”
The Las Vegas headliner has been dogged by allegations of misconduct for years, which his attorneys characterised as “quite a few false claims” made towards him.
In a Thursday assertion to The Instances, a consultant for Copperfield additional pushed again on the allegations made within the Guardian report by saying they have been a re-hash of false statements made previously.
“Everybody that is aware of David Copperfield will let you know that these latest allegations from one newspaper are the precise reverse of who David is. The truth is, David has a file of risking his profession to assist shield girls from highly effective predators,” the assertion mentioned. “Most of those historic accusations have been made earlier than, and all of them are as false now as they have been then. “
The consultant mentioned that Copperfield requested “proof” upon which the allegations declare to rely and has not been supplied with it, including that when U.S. regulation enforcement has seemed into the matter, “they’ve been investigated totally and it has been discovered that there’s merely no case to reply.”
“The Guardian’s characterization is just not who David is, and he continues to assist anybody who has skilled any type of abuse or discrimination,” the assertion continued. “The motion should succeed, however false accusations should cease for it to flourish. David shall be contemplating the place together with his authorized workforce and can take such steps as could also be applicable over these false and scurrilous allegations.”
Copperfield, among the many first post-Houdini celebrity illusionists, was additionally amongst a number of distinguished figures named in lately unsealed court docket paperwork that have been mentioned to have been related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced late financier accused of organizing a sex-trafficking ring involving ladies as younger as 14.