Bryan Singer, Gary Goddard deny second sex abuse allegations

Monday, May 5, 2014
Singer, Goddard deny 2nd sex abuse claims
Bryan Singer and Gary Goddard have vehemently denied new claims alleging they sexually assaulted a teenager in London.

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "X-Men" director Bryan Singer and producer-designer Gary Goddard previously named in lawsuits contending they sexually abused child actor Michael Egan have denied similar allegations following a second lawsuit filed by a new accuser Saturday.

The new charge involves an anonymous British citizen. He is being represented by Jeff Herman, the same attorney who filed four other suits last month against Singer, Goddard and several other Hollywood executives on behalf of Egan.

The latest lawsuit alleges Goddard met a British teenager on social media in 2003 when he was 14 years old. The victim had dreams of becoming an actor and "established what my client thought was a mentorship," said Herman.

Singer and Goddard are accused of sexually assaulting the teen two years later after taking him to a "Superman" premiere and after-party in London. Herman says his client was forced into a sexual encounter in a hotel room following the event.

"They begin to try and do sexual things to him, he resists, he says no, he's uncomfortable," said Herman. "Gary Goddard leaves the room and comes back with a big musclebound man, and he physically manhandles my client, he pushes him around, he holds him, while Bryan Singer starts to take off his clothes."

Herman says Singer then asked the boy, who is now a 25-year-old man, to perform sexual acts.

During a news conference held by Herman Monday, the attorney said Goddard sent the victim chocolates and a note signed 'Love Gary'. Goddard also allegedly asked the boy for topless photos and says they later chatted nude online. Herman claims Goddard also sent the boy an email which included a "naughty" photo of the boy in a towel.

"It's not even that naughty because you wouldn't let me take any of you showing even a little bit of your bum,'" the email allegedly read.

Herman says his latest client was inspired to come forward after seeing Egan on TV. Egan claims he was lured into a sex ring run by a former digital entertainment company executive with promises of auditions for acting, modeling and commercial jobs. He said he was abused between the ages of 15 and 17 and was threatened to keep quiet.

Both Singer and Goddard deny any wrongdoing.

Singer's attorney, Martin Singer, calls the accusations totally untrue.

"Mr. Herman's desperation led him to fabricate these new allegations against Mr. Singer, which we also prove to be completely false," said Singer's attorney, Marty Singer.

Goddard's lawyer, Alan Grodin of Weintraub Tobin, says "the allegations made against Mr. Goddard are vehemently denied and will be vigorously defended at any trial of these matters and Mr. Goddard is entirely confident he will be fully vindicated."

Herman says he knows of other powerful men in Hollywood who took advantage of young boys. He says other victims have contacted him, and he plans to file further lawsuits soon.