David Copperfield: 16 women accuse magician of sexual misconduct – National | 24CA News
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Magician David Copperfield has been accused of sexual misconduct by 16 totally different girls, with greater than half alleging they had been underage after they interacted with the entertainer.
The claims had been made as a part of a years-long investigation by the Guardian newspaper’s U.S. bureau, which reported allegations relationship from the late Eighties to 2014.
The accusations towards Copperfield, 67, vary from alleged situations of drugging, sexual assault and groping.
Many of the ladies declare Copperfield mentioned he would assist them set up a modelling or leisure profession. More than half of the accusers mentioned they met Copperfield at one in all his exhibits.
Copperfield has denied all of the allegations towards him. Lawyers for the illusionist instructed the Guardian that Copperfield “never acted inappropriately with anyone, let alone anyone underage.” His legal professionals preserve the magician is somebody who shows “kindness, shyness and treatment of men and women with respect.”
The legal professionals mentioned it was “not only completely false but also entirely implausible” that Copperfield ever touched a girl inappropriately.
As for allegations of drugging girls, Copperfield’s legal professionals mentioned medicine are “not a part of his world.”
Copperfield has by no means been charged with a criminal offense, his legal professionals famous.
One girl included within the Guardian’s investigation, Brittney Lewis, made her accusations towards Copperfield public in 2018. She mentioned he drugged her in 1988, when she was 17 years previous, then sexually assaulted her.
The magician denied Lewis’ allegations in 2018 when she mentioned them publicly.
Now, two extra unnamed girls instructed the Guardian they had been additionally drugged and sexually assaulted by Copperfield. The girls, who’re associates, mentioned they met Copperfield for drinks after one in all his exhibits in 1993. They instructed the newspaper they had been unable to consent to intercourse with him and “blacked out” in his lodge room.
Four different girls mentioned Copperfield groped them or that they had been made to the touch him in a sexual method throughout his stage performances. Three of the 4 girls had been youngsters on the time of the alleged incidents. One girl mentioned she was 15 years previous when Copperfield allegedly touched her breasts on stage with out consent, all whereas her household watched from the viewers.
A unique, nameless girl instructed the Guardian she was additionally 15 when she met Copperfield at a present in 1991. The pair stored in touch for years, however the girl now says she was “groomed” by the illusionist, who as soon as despatched her a card when she was 16 that learn, “In 2 years I will be back.” The girl mentioned she and Copperfield had consensual intercourse when she was 18, and that it was her first time.
Copperfield’s legal professionals denied he groomed the accuser and mentioned she and Copperfield had a consensual relationship for 4 years.
One groping allegation towards Copperfield has Canadian roots, stemming from a present in Hamilton, Ont. in 1996. The accuser mentioned she was 17 when Copperfield invited her on stage. He allegedly touched her inappropriately “between the anus and the vagina” in entrance of the group. She filed a police grievance in 2018.
Another girl, 38-year-old Fallon Thornton, reported Copperfield to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after he allegedly squeezed her breast when she got here on stage throughout a 2014 efficiency at MGM Grand casino-hotel. The Guardian obtained police data for the alleged incident, which famous the case was closed as a result of “insufficient evidence.”
These 16 girls aren’t the primary to accuse Copperfield of sexual misconduct — situations which his legal professionals known as “numerous false claims” already towards him.
The Guardian mentioned their in depth reporting drew on interviews with greater than 100 folks, in addition to court docket and police data.
In a press release to Global News, a consultant for Copperfield maintained his innocence.
“Everyone that knows David Copperfield will tell you that these recent allegations from one newspaper are the exact opposite of who David is. In fact, David has a record of risking his career to help protect women from powerful predators,” the assertion reads. “Most of these historic accusations have been made before, and all of them are as false now as they were then. David requested the ‘evidence’ upon which these false allegations claim to rely and this has not been provided. By contrast, whenever US law enforcement has looked into such matters, they have been investigated thoroughly and it has been found that there is simply no case to answer.”
The assertion continues: “The Guardian’s characterization is not who David is, and he continues to support anyone who has experienced any form of abuse or discrimination. The movement must succeed, but false accusations must stop for it to flourish. David will be considering the position with his legal team and will take such steps as may be appropriate over these false and scurrilous allegations.”
In January, Copperfield’s title was revealed in paperwork associated to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, amongst a number of different high-profile people. One of Epstein’s victims named Copperfield in a 2016 deposition associated to a defamation lawsuit towards Ghislaine Maxwell and mentioned she met the magician when he carried out tips at a dinner.
The presence of Copperfield’s title in Epstein-related paperwork doesn’t straight imply he has dedicated a criminal offense. His legal professionals mentioned Copperfield had “no knowledge or belief that anything improper was going on” with Epstein.
“Like the rest of the world, he learned about it from the press,” his legal professionals mentioned of Epstein’s crimes, including that Copperfield didn’t usually socialize with Epstein.
If you or somebody you understand is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive state of affairs, please go to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They are additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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