Entertainment

Jeremy Piven ‘unequivocally denies’ new misconduct claims

His lawyer said new allegations were “baseless” and “non-credible”.
His lawyer said new allegations were “baseless” and “non-credible”. His lawyer said new allegations were “baseless” and “non-credible”.

Actor Jeremy Piven has denied new allegations of sexual misconduct, saying: “I have never forced myself on anyone”.

The Mr Selfridge star described accusations in an online news report as “false”, and said some of the assertions were “not even physically possible”.

BuzzFeed News reported that three women had come forward to allege inappropriate behaviour dating back decades, including one who claimed Piven had followed her into a trailer on the set of a film in 1985 and had pinned her down on a couch.

Another said an encounter with the star had turned aggressive and left her feeling threatened, and that he had exposed himself to her, while the third alleged Piven had pushed her against the wall of a hotel room and tried to force himself on her, the report said.

It comes after Piven previously denied “appalling allegations” from actress Ariane Bellamar, who accused him of groping her on two occasions, once on the set of the Emmy winner’s show Entourage, and again at the Playboy Mansion.

The Entourage star released a statement in response to new allegations (Ian West/PA)
The Entourage star released a statement in response to new allegations (Ian West/PA) The Entourage star released a statement in response to new allegations (Ian West/PA)

Responding to the latest accusations, Piven, 52, said: “These allegations, which in one case goes back more than 30 years and the two others more than 20 years ago, are false.”

He added: “I have never forced myself on anyone, nor have I ever exposed myself or restrained anyone against their will.

“To the contrary, if any woman ever said no, I stopped. Some of the assertions, as related to me by Buzzfeed, are not even physically possible.

“As one example, there is a claim that I grabbed the woman, started to kiss her, picked her up and wrapped her legs around my waist.

“It is hard to understand how someone could hold a woman and at the same time wrap both of her legs around his waist without the consent of the woman.”

Piven’s lawyer, Evan Spiegal, described the claims as “baseless non-credible allegations” which his client “unequivocally denies”.

He said the actor had previously taken a lie detector test, which he passed, and that he had provided the results to media outlets.

He added: “The results confirm that he did not commit the acts of which he is accused by any of the women.”

Piven is one of several high-profile stars to have been accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.