A second actress has come forward with sexual assault allegations against Geoffrey Rush, Orange Is the New Black star Yael Stone.
Yael, who plays Lorna Morello on the hit Netflix show is speaking to the New York Times with allegations of harassment against Geoffrey, who she starred opposite in an Australian stage production of The Diary of a Madman in 2010 and 2011.
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According to Yael, it began when Geoffrey would send her sexually suggestive, flirtatious and vulgar text messages while they starred opposite each other in the play:
“I was so flattered that someone like that would spend their time texting me into the very early hours of the morning. Gradually the text messages became more sexual in nature, but always encased in this very highfalutin intellectual language.”
But things progressed beyond text messages, when he spied on her while she showered:
“I remember I looked up to see there was a small shaving mirror over the top of the partition between the showers and he was using it to look down at my naked body. I believe that it was meant with a playful intention, but the effect was that I felt there was nowhere for me to feel safe and unobserved.”
Another person who worked on the play, but asked to remain anonymous, confirmed this incident in the shower cubicles:
“I saw it. It was very close quarters and I had a direct view of the showers. After the show that night, I heard Yael scream and tell him to stop.”
In addition, he would ask Yael to remove his costume from his sweaty body (ew!), join her without invitation while she slept between performances, and danced around her in a “playful, clownish manner” while he was “totally naked,” as she removed her makeup in their shared dressing space.
At the time, Yael was 25, Geoffrey was 59, and she was nervous to come forward:
“There was no part of my brain considering speaking to anyone in any official capacity. This was a huge star. What were they going to do? Fire Geoffrey and keep me?”
Geoffrey has denied her allegations, issuing a statement in response to the New York Times:
“Clearly Yael has been upset on occasion by the spirited enthusiasm I generally bring to my work. I sincerely and deeply regret if I have caused her any distress. This, most certainly, has never been my intention.”
Spirited enthusiasm isn’t synonymous with being a total creep!!
This isn’t the first time Geoffrey has been accused of misconduct by a fellow actor. In November 2017, allegations came out that he had been inappropriate with a costar during the Sydney Theatre Company‘s production of King Lear in 2015, which was later revealed to be Eryn Jean Norvill.
Sending you support, Yael!
[Image via FayesVision/WENN.]
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