In the wake of sexual assault charges leveled at disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, more and more female celebrities are stepping forward with stories of sexual abuse.
Michele Mahone, a radio presenter and comedian, made headlines this week when she leveled a shocking accusation towards the late Patrick Swayze. Swayze passed away in 2009 at the age of 57 from terminal pancreatic cancer.
Mahone claims that Swayze “violated” her while she was employed as a Disney make-up artist. She made her accusations pblic in a recent article on news.com.au:
I worked with Disney for years as one of their make-up artists, and would work on actors three to five times a month.
Patrick Swayze came in for an interview, and the whole time all he did was talk about how fantastic his wife was.
At the end of his interview, I asked him if he wanted his make-up removed.
I went back to the room, and put my left hand up to lift his fringe off his face, while I removed his makeup with my right hand.
He grabbed my waist and pulled me in and started kissing me. I was completely shocked. He wouldn’t let go. His hand moved behind my head, and it was a really forceful kiss.
She said the experience was shocking and unexpected, “like a drunk in the bar grabbing you out of nowhere.”
He said, “Oh, this doesn’t mean we can’t work together,” and I didn’t know what to say.
I was shaken. I was trembling. It was like an uncle grabbing you and kissing you. I was appalled, because he just said how much he loved his wife. I felt violated. My mouth hurt. I was in absolute shock.
I slowly packed up my kit hoping that by the time I was done, he’d have left the studio.
But when I left, he was still in the lobby. Producers and everyone were still there.
He said: “Well give me a hug goodbye, Michele,” and I had to hug him. What else could I do? When he left, I pulled the producer (who was a woman) aside. I told her how he kissed me, and she asked if it had happened before. I said no, but they never hired me again.
In a tweet Michele reveals that she has been sexually assaulted twice by men in the entertainment industry. She reported her first assault, and was subsequently fired.
I have been sexually assaulted twice by men in the biz.The one time I was brave enough to report an A list actor, I was fired. Not him, me.
— Michele Mahone (@Mmahone) October 12, 2017
Michele explains why it’s so difficult for young women in show business to make charges against their attacker. “You do not speak out. You don’t say anything. Because the person that brings in the most money wins. Period.”
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