Portia de Rossi, the Australian actress well-known for her role in Arrested Development, has come forward with allegations of s**ual harassment against the prominent Hollywood figure, Steven Seagal.
In a recent Twitter post, she disclosed a distressing incident that occurred during a casting session with the Under Siege star.
During her final audition for a Steven Seagal film, de Rossi recounted being called into his office.
She detailed how Seagal emphasized the importance of off-screen chemistry before unsettlingly proceeding to unzip his leather pants in front of her.
Shocked and appalled by the actor’s actions, de Rossi immediately fled the scene and contacted her agent for assistance.
In a surprising turn of events, de Rossi’s agent responded in a rather nonchalant manner upon hearing about the distressing encounter.
The agent’s casual reaction, as relayed by de Rossi, suggested an alarming level of acceptance or resignation to such inappropriate behavior within the industry.
Following de Rossi’s revelations, representatives for both de Rossi and Seagal were reportedly unavailable for immediate comment on the matter.
This development comes on the heels of similar accounts shared by other actresses, including Julianna Margulies from The Good Wife, who recently disclosed her discomforting encounter with Seagal at a hotel room when she was just 23 years old.
Margulies described how Seagal, under the pretense of rehearsing a scene, exposed her to a gun and made her feel deeply unsettled during their interaction.
These troubling narratives shed light on a pattern of alleged misconduct surrounding Seagal, further exacerbated by the emergence of past recordings and testimonies from various women, such as Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl and actress Jenny McCarthy.
Seagal’s reputation has been tarnished by multiple accusations of s**ual harassment over the years, with incidents involving inappropriate comments, requests for intimate favors, and instances of unwelcome physical contact.
The prevalence of such misconduct within the entertainment industry underscores the urgent need for accountability and systemic change to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all individuals involved.
Portia de Rossi’s courageous decision to speak out adds her voice to a growing chorus of women who refuse to remain silent in the face of injustice and abuse.
By sharing her story, she not only confronts the specific wrongs committed but also contributes to a broader dialogue on the importance of fostering a culture of respect, equality, and integrity within the realm of entertainment and beyond.
