Kevin Connolly has been accused of sexual assault by costume designer Gracie Cox.
The alleged assault is said to have taken place at a Manhattan wrap party for the Entourage star's directorial debut Gardener of Eden in December 2005. According to Cox's comments in a new Daily Beastreport, Connolly—whose behavior on the set of the production had made her "a little uncomfortable"—led her down a hall to a VIP lounge area of the venue. Once inside, Connolly is alleged to have started kissing her before pulling her into a side booth.
"I didn't know how to respond—but before I could even think about what to do about it, he pulled me into one of these little side [booths], and pulled down my pants, and turned me around, and within no time was inside of me. I was just in shock," Cox said in the report from Marlow Stern.
Connolly, per the article released on Wednesday, has argued that this constituted a "consensual encounter." The report also adds that Cox has been attempting to tell her story for years, including in late 2017 surrounding the widespread coverage of the Harvey Weinstein cases.
The Daily Beast notes that four friends of Cox confirmed she had informed them of the alleged assault within days of it happening. These friends, including a woman identified as Bessie Gantt, also confirmed that designer Amy Westcott—who had enlisted Cox as an assistant costumer designer on Eden—had a heated argument with Connolly at the party following the alleged assault.
"It was an assault. She was a deer in the headlights," Gantt said.
The movie in question was released in 2007 and was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, among others. It stars Lukas Haas, Giovanni Ribisi, and Erika Christensen and focuses on the story of a young college dropout who inadvertently captures a serial rapist.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, please reach out to RAINN via their hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)for confidential support from a trained staff member. For more info, click here.
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