Dustin Hoffman faces new allegations of sexual harassment from broadway co-star
Kathryn Rossetter made the claims a month after Anna Graham Hunter made similar accusations
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dustin Hoffman has been accused of sexual harassment by his former co-star Kathryn Rossetter, a month after author Anna Graham Hunter accused the actor of sexual misconduct.
Rossetter alleged she had an "horrific, demoralising and abusive experience at the hands (literally) of one of my acting idols" while starring with Hoffman in the 1984 Broadway production of Death Of A Salesman.
In her guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, she alleged that the Oscar-winning actor had continuously groped her and demanded foot rubs, and that he once exposed her body to the backstage crew by lifting her slip up over her head.
The actress also claimed that Hoffman would "grab" her breast while posing for pictures, but that she was "not ever" complicit with his actions.
Rossetter wrote that, after the play closed, she "returned to acting by day and crying by night".
She said that when she reunited with Hoffman to film the screen version of Death Of A Salesman, she filmed her part as the Woman in Boston in just three days so she "had no knowledge of his treatment of interns or any other women".
In November, Graham Hunter - who was a production assistant on the set of the film - claimed that Hoffman had demanded she give him a foot rub and made sexually explicit comments to her when she was 17 and he was in his late forties.
Hoffman, 80, apologised following the allegation, saying he has "the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation", and that his alleged behaviour "is not reflective of who I am".
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman's representatives declined to comment but his lawyers put the publication in touch with other people who worked on the set at the time who did not recall the conduct described by Rossetter.
Stage manager Tom Kelly said: "It just doesn't ring true. Given my position, it's insulting to say this kind of activity would go on to the extent of sexual violation."
On Monday, during a Q&A panel for the 20th anniversary of his film Wag The Dog, Hoffman said that he did not recall ever knowing Graham Hunter.
Hoffman told comic John Oliver: "If I met her, it was in concert with other people."
Oliver dismissed Hoffman's apology, adding that is "that kind of response to this stuff that pisses me off".
He told Hoffman that "it is reflective of who you were" in reply to his original statement over Graham Hunter.
Hoffman is one of a number of people in the film industry to have been accused of sexual misconduct, following the Harvey Weinstein allegations that surfaced in October.
Weinstein has denied ever engaging in "non-consensual sexual conduct". A representative for Hoffman has been contacted for comment.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments