More Than 30 Women Have Accused Hollywood Filmmaker James Toback Of Sexual Harassment
As with Harvey Weinstein, there have been rumours about Toback for decades.
The Los Angeles Times has published decades’ worth of sexual harassment allegations against Oscar-nominated writer and director James Toback.
More than 30 women have accused Toback, an industry veteran, of sexually inappropriate behaviour, with many alleging he approached them on the streets of New York promising to make them famous. In subsequent meetings, he would allegedly boast about his sexual conquests and ask invasive personal questions, before dry humping the women or masturbating in front of them.
Among the women to go on record with their accusations are actors Terri Conn and Echo Danon, Veruca Salt vocalist Louis Post, and LA radio reporter Anna Scott.
The Times report comes as Hollywood continues to deal with the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandal. More than 50 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault, while a number of his accusers have claimed that his behaviour is indicative of a broader pattern of abuse by powerful men in the industry.
Toback has worked in the film business since the 1970s, and has directed films including The Pick-Up Artist starring a young Robert Downey Jr., as well as the 2008 Mike Tyson documentary, Tyson. He was nominated for an Oscar for writing the 1991 Warren Beaty movie Bugsy.
As with Weinstein, rumours about Toback’s behaviour date back many years, with Spy Magazine first writing about it in 1989. According to the story in The Times, many of Toback’s accusers were inspired to come forward after the news about Weinstein “dredged up memories they had long repressed.”
So proud of my sisters for bringing down yet another pig: James Toback https://t.co/73xLVU3FVY
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) October 22, 2017
James Toback damn you for stealing, damn you for traumatizing. https://t.co/rLpboMcIMT
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 22, 2017
One of the main jobs of a director is to create a safe environment for the actors. James Toback is a disgrace. https://t.co/pxLFmBrUJ0
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) October 22, 2017
If there is a Hell, James Toback will be in it.
— Scott Derrickson (@scottderrickson) October 22, 2017
When contacted by The Times, Toback denied the allegations against him, claiming to have never met the women or, if he did, it “was for five minutes and [he had] no recollection.”
You can read the full LA Times story here.
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