American magician and hypnotist David Copperfield was accused of sexual harassment by 16 women. The injured women claim that the man pumped them with drugs and had sex with them.
About this informs The Guardian.
According to an investigation by Guardian US journalists, most of the allegations come from women who said they were under 18 at the time of the incidents. Several women reported that they were as young as 15, although he may not have known their ages. Three of the victims allege he allegedly drugged them before having sex with them, which they believe they could not have consented to.
During the investigation, which lasted five years, journalists found that Copperfield promised women who accused him of harassment that he would help them with careers in the modeling business or the entertainment industry. The authors of the investigation also found that the accused tried to maintain contact with the women and their parents.
The women told reporters that it was only after the MeToo movement that they felt able to tell their stories of relationships with the magician.
Copperfield himself considers such accusations to be slander. After the story went viral, representatives for the artist told the Mirror:
“Anyone who knows David Copperfield will tell you that these recent allegations in one newspaper are the exact opposite of who David is. In fact, David has already risked his career to help protect women from powerful predators. Most of these historical accusations have been made before, and all of them are as false now as they were then. David requested the “evidence” on which these false allegations are said to be based, but it was not provided.”.
