Actor Ed Westwick has been accused of rape by fellow actor Kristina Cohen.
The 30-year-old British star of Gossip Girl and BBC comedy White Gold allegedly assaulted Cohen three years ago at his apartment. Cohen, whose credits include Californication and horror film Devil’s Night, was briefly dating a producer who was friends with Westwick.
She claims in a Facebook post that after the three had dinner she fell asleep in his guest bedroom before she then found the actor on top of her.
“I told him to stop, but he was strong,” she wrote. “I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to [expletive] me. I was paralysed, terrified. I couldn’t speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has also opened an investigation into sexual assault allegations made by Cohen. LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division sex crimes unit took over the case om Tuesday after the actress made to report at a police station. The LAPD is also investigating allegations made against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Westwick has responded with an Instagram post, claiming not to know Cohen. “I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.”
Cohen alleges that her boyfriend proceeded to place the blame on her for the assault and that if she came forward, her career would be ruined. She details how “sickened” she then was to see Westwick’s career flourish despite using “his power to rape and intimidate”. Cohen was inspired to share her post after other women have come forward with stories of sexual abuse in Hollywood.
“I hope my coming forward will help others to know that they are not alone, that they are not to blame, and it is not their fault,” she wrote. “Just as the other women and men coming forward have helped me to realise the same. I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters.”
Westwick will next be seen in BBC One’s Agatha Christie adaptation Ordeal by Innocence and the channel was under fire this morning for tweeting a first look image hours after Cohen’s story was shared.
Westwick’s lawyer has been approached for comment.
