Filmmaker Brett Ratner Accused Of Sexually Abusing Actresses

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Prominent director and producer Brett Ratner became the latest Hollywood powerbroker accused of extensive sexual misconduct, with six actresses including Olivia Munn accusing him of unwanted sexual advances, harassment or assault.

As first reported by the Los Angeles Times, model and actress Natasha Henstridge accused the “X-Men: The Last Stand” director of sexually assaulting her at his apartment in the '90s when she found herself alone with him after a group of mutual friends left. “Newsroom” star Olivia Munn claims the director masturbated in front of her in his trailer and sexually harassed her at media events and Hollywood parties.

As hundreds of women have come forward in recent weeks with allegations of sexual misconduct at the hands of producer Harvey Weinstein, director James Toback and other powerful men, Henstridge decided she would no longer remain silent, the Times reported. As is often the case, none of the allegations were reported to police.

Martin Singer, an attorney for Ratner, denied the allegations.

He told the Times: “I have represented Mr. Ratner for two decades, and no woman has ever made a claim against him for sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. Furthermore, no woman has ever requested or received any financial settlement from my client.”

Ratner has become one of Hollywood's most powerful players, directing, producing or financing dozens of Wednesday's biggest box-office hits, including Rush Hour, The Revenant and Horrible Bosses.

RELATED:

• Hundreds Accuse Director James Toback Of Sexual Abuse Or Harassment: Report
  
• LAPD Investigates New Harvey Weinstein Rape Allegation
  
• Harvey Weinstein Now Accused Of Rape As A-Listers Come Forward

Also See: Maisie Williams Says Sexual Assault Allegations In Hollywood Are 'Shocking'

The 48-year-old Ratner has long flaunted his playboy persona, bragging publicly about his sexual prowess, the Times said. He was romantically linked to Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Mariah Carey. The women quoted by the Times on Wednesday are actresses Natasha Henstridge, Olivia Munn, Jaime Ray Newman, Katharine Towne, aspiring singer Eri Sasaki and background actress Jorina King.

Munn compared her unwanted encounters with Ratner to dealing with a schoolyard bully.

“It feels as if I keep going up against the same bully at school who just won't quit,” she said. “You just hope that enough people believe the truth and for enough time to pass so that you can't be connected to him anymore.”

She first met the director when she was a young actress asked to deliver food to his empty trailer on the set of "After the Sunset” on 2004. Only when she got there, Ratner was in the trailer and asked her to stay, she told the Los Angeles Times.

"He walked out ... with his belly sticking out, no pants on, shrimp cocktail in one hand and he was furiously masturbating in the other," Munn said. "And before I literally could even figure out where to escape or where to look, he ejaculated."

Years later after Ratner publicly claimed to have had sex with Munn, she ran into him at an event in Hollywood. Munn had just appeared on the cover of a magazine.

"Why do you hate me?" Ratner asked her, she recalled.

"It's more of a dislike,” Munn responded.

“Why? I bought 10 of your magazines and came over all of them,” Ratner replied according to Munn.

Ratner “has no recollection of making such a statement,” Singer told the Times. However, the newspaper interviewed several witnesses who confirmed that they overheard the vulgar comment.

The Beverly Hills Police Department, meanwhile, is investigating "multiple complaints" involving Weinstein and James Toback, two longtime film industry figures who have each been the subject of numerous accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

"The Beverly Hills Police Department has recently received multiple complaints involving Harvey Weinstein. These cases are under investigation and no further information will be released at this time," police said in a statement. The department sent an identical release involving Toback, a writer and director. Weinstein, a producer long considered one of Hollywood's most powerful people, was fired from The Weinstein Company after dozens of women accused him of sexual harassment or assault. He was also expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers' Guild. The Directors' Guild is expected to follow suit, having initiated the process.

Weinstein has apologized for his behavior but vehemently denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual activity. The Los Angeles Police Department has announced it is investigating a sexual assault allegation against Weinstein. That allegation was made by an Italian model-actress who claims Weinstein raped her in 2013 at a hotel while she was in town for an Italian film festival.

Police in New York and London have said they are investigating allegations of sexual assault involving Weinstein as well.

As for Toback, hundreds of women recently emerged to allege years of perverted and creepy behavior by the director whose credits include "The Pick-up Artist" and "Black & White." The Los Angeles Times reported that it spoke to the women about the allegations, with 31 speaking on the record.

City News Service contributed to this report.; Photos: In this July 21, 2017 file photo, actress Olivia Munn attends "The Lego Ninjago Movie" photo op at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Munn along with five other women have accused film director Brett Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Brett Ratner accepts the Television Academy Award for "Before The Flood" at the 2017 Television Academy Honors at the Montage Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)