Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cuba Gooding Jr’s defence lawyer in sex abuse case launches ‘#NotMe’ movement

The Oscar winner had been accused of squeezing a woman’s breast in a New York bar

Adam White
Thursday 08 August 2019 04:40 EDT
Comments
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. led by police in handcuffs

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.

A lawyer defending Cuba Gooding Jr against sex abuse charges has launched a "#NotMe" movement – one designed, he claims, to support men falsely accused of criminal behaviour.

Attorney Mark Heller told Page Six that “after fifty years of defending innocent, falsely accused and unfairly prosecuted defendants, I am igniting the #NotMe Movement”, adding: “I am totally confident that when a jury of Cuba Gooding Jr’s peers assess all of the exculpatory evidence in this case, that he will be totally exonerated. His case will be a hallmark example for the #NotMe Movement.”

Gooding Jr, who won an Oscar in 1997 for his role in Jerry Maguire, is facing forcible touching and sex abuse charges after allegedly squeezing a woman’s breast at a New York bar in June.

A New York judge previously denied a motion to drop the charges, while attorneys condemned Heller for attempting to use the accuser’s social media history as evidence against her mental stability.

“None of these [social media] statements bear any relation to the facts of this case or to defendant’s guilt or innocence,” an assistant District Attorney argued in court papers in July. “They were simply inflammatory comments used to embarrass and humiliate the complainant.”

Gooding Jr has denied all charges against him.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in