Ashley Judd sues Harvey Weinstein, claims he 'torpedoed' her career

May 01, 2018 19:51

Ashley Judd, one of the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct and harassment, has filed a lawsuit against the former media mogul for trying to sabotage her career.

In the suit, Judd has alleged that Weinstein dissuaded director Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh from working with her in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy as she had rebuffed his sexual advances.

"My legal complaint. I am suing for economic remedy due to damage done to my career as a result of sexual harassment. Financial recuperation goes to @TIMESUPNOW @TIMESUPLDF so that American workers who experience sexual harassment & retaliation have help," Judd tweeted while also posting a link to the complaint.

In the aftermath of the sexual harassment scandal, Jackson had claimed Weinstein designed a "smear campaign" against Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino, that discouraged him to offer roles to the two actors who were one of the first women to openly accuse the disgraced media mogul of sexual misconduct.

Referring to Jackson's statement in the suit, Judd claimed that Weinstein "torpedoed Ms. Judd's incredible professional opportunity" to work with Jackson by telling him she was a "nightmare" to work with and should be avoided "at all costs".

"The pathetic reality, however, was that Weinstein was retaliating against Ms. Judd for rejecting his sexual demands approximately one year earlier, when he cornered her in a hotel room under the guise of discussing business," wrote Judd's attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr.

"A self-described 'benevolent dictator' who has bragged that 'I can be scary,' Weinstein used his power in the entertainment industry to damage Ms. Judd's reputation and limit her ability to find work," it added.

The 50-year-old actor is suing Weinstein for defamation, sexual harassment, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and unfair competition.

Weinstein's representative denied the allegations that he smeared Judd's name in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. -- PTI

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