Bryan Singer, the director of the X-Men films and The Usual Suspects , has been accused of raping a 17-year-old boy and forcing him to take cocaine in 1999 via a civil lawsuit filed in Hawaii.
Plaintiff Michael Egan, who has waived his right to anonymity, claims he was abused by Mr Singer and others in Los Angeles and Hawaii during a period in which he was trying to make an acting career for himself in Hollywood.
"Hollywood has a problem with the sexual exploitation of children," his lawyer Jeff Herman, who handles sexual abuse cases across the US, told the Hollywood Reporter . "This is the first of many cases I will be filing to give these victims a voice and to expose the issue."
Mr Singer, whose new X-Men film Days of Future Past opens in the US next month, has vehemently denied the allegations against him. "The claims made against Bryan Singer are completely without merit," said the director's lawyer, Marty Singer. "We are very confident that Bryan will be vindicated in this absurd and defamatory lawsuit." He added: "It is obvious that this case was filed in an attempt to get publicity at the time when Bryan's new movie is about to open in a few weeks."
Mr Egan, who lives in Nevada and would now be in his early 30s, is said to have informed police about his claims. Nevertheless, it is unclear why the allegations have been brought through the civil courts. He claims he was abused during “sordid parties” after arriving in LA from the midwest as a young wannabe actor. The suit also alleges Mr Singer and others threatened to make or break his career depending on his willingness to keep them happy.
Court documents claim: “Defendant, Bryan Jay Singer manipulated his power, wealth, and position in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse and exploit the underage Plaintiff through the use of drugs, alcohol, threats, and inducements which resulted in Plaintiff suffering catastrophic psychological and emotional injuries. Defendant Singer did so as part of a group of adult males similarly positioned in the entertainment industry that maintained and exploited boys in a sordid sex ring. A Hollywood mogul must not use his position to sexually exploit underage actors.”
Also named in the suit, though not as a defendant, is registered sex offender Marc Collins-Rector, who Mr Egan claims arranged for Mr Singer to assault him at a house in Encino, California.
Mr Egan is asking for unspecified damages on the grounds of intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, assault and invasion of privacy by unreasonable intrusion. Police departments in LA and Honolulu have yet to confirm whether they have received his complaint. – ( Guardian service)