Casey Affleck sued for sexual harassment

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Casey Affleck has been sued for sexual harassment by a female producer named Amanda White, who worked on Casey’s documentary, I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix. White claims that Casey habitually demeaned her, spoke in graphic detail about sex, said and texted rude things and invited her to spend the night with him in a hotel, and after she refused, he got aggressive and grabby, and then he didn’t pay her. Casey is married to Joaquin’s sister, Summer, and they have two sons together, Indiana (who is six years old) and Atticus (who will be three years old in November).

Maybe Casey Affleck is looking to quit acting for a while, too. One of the producers on the “Joaquin Phoenix tries hip-hop” documentary the actor’s been working on has sued Affleck for $2 million, claiming he refused to pay her after she refused to spend the night in a hotel with him.

Affleck—who denies all—is married to Phoenix’s little sister, Summer, and they have two sons.

In the lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Amanda White alleges that she endured “uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace” throughout the making of I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix, which, incidentally, just recently found a distributor.

“Affleck repeatedly referred to women as ‘cows’; he discussed his sexual exploits and those of other celebrities that he allegedly witnessed; and asked [White], after learning her age, ‘Isn’t it about time you get pregnant?'” the suit states.

White also claims that, while shooting in Costa Rica, she was unable to go to her hotel room one night because Phoenix and Affleck were in there with two women. While filming at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, White continues, Affleck hired prostitutes to be on set, but none of that footage ended up in the movie. She believes that Affleck employed the hookers “for his personal gratification,” subjecting her and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka to the scene “for reasons having nothing to do with the purpose of the project.”

Finally, White claims, when the production moved to San Francisco, Affleck tried to get her to share a hotel room with him. When she refused, the suit states, he “became hostile and aggressive” and “violently grabbed her arm in an effort to intimidate her into staying.” After being slighted, he sent her “abusive” text messages.

Ultimately, Affleck refused to give White the $50,000 they had agreed on for her work on the film and, after she repeatedly complained and got nothing, she quit.

In response to the suit, attorney Michael J. Plonsker said in a statement to E! News on behalf of Affleck and codefendant Flemmy Productions that White’s claims are “preposterous and without merit.”

“Ms. White was terminated from the production over a year ago,” Plonsker said. “She and her lawyers believe that this maliciously and erroneously filed complaint will cause the producers to succumb to her outrageous and baseless demands. She is mistaken. The complaint will be vigorously defended and cross-claims will be filed against her.”

White is asking for at least $2 million in damages to cover sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to prevent harassment/retaliation, constructive discharge in violation of public policy, breach of oral contract, unjust enrichment, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

[From E! News]

It’s so oddly specific, I tend to think there might be something there. Plus, I’ve always believed Casey is a strange dude, and maybe this answers some questions? Of course we don’t know who is telling the truth, and it’s a bold move for Casey to counter-sue, especially if White does have any proof of her allegations. Maybe we can find a way to blame Joaquin and his f-cked up performance art.

Celebrities attend the Killer Inside Me premiere as part of the Tribeca Film Festival, held at the SVA Theater, in New York City, NY on April 27, 2010. Pictured: Casey Affleck Fame Pictures, Inc

39943, NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Tuesday April 27, 2010. Casey Affleck arrives at the SVA Theater for the premiere of his new film The Killer Inside Me during the 9th Annual Tribeca Film Festival. Also in attendance was Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Abbie Cornish and Cheryl Hines. Photograph: PacificCoastNews.com

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 27:  Actors Joaquin Phoenix (L) and Casey Affleck arrive at the reading of 'The World Of Nick Adams' to honor Paul Newman held at Davies Symphony Hall on October 27, 2008 in San Francisco, California.  The performance is a benefit for Paul Newman's Hole In The Wall California Camp, The Painted Turtle; a recreational camp and family health care center for children suffering from life-threatening diseases.  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11:  Actors Casey Affleck (L) and Clive Owen attend the after party for the Cinema Society and Salvatore Ferragamo screening of 'Two Lovers' at the Cooper Square Hotel on February 11, 2009 in New York City.  (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Header: Casey on January 30, 2008. Credit: WENN.

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40 Responses to “Casey Affleck sued for sexual harassment”

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  1. Billie says:

    It’s not bold for him to countersue, it’s a move sometimes to intimidate or to look innocent. First see if he follows through on the threat to counter-sue or if it’s just lawyer posturing. The harassment sounds true and sadly typical. Good that some women are starting to come forward with harassment in Hollywood, especially because women are generally too afraid of career suicide and getting smeared to speak out. She’s got guts – good for her. He sounds like a wank

  2. malina says:

    OMG I love Joaquin.

    Hire prostitutes to be on set? Yeah that’s how you make the documentary, excatly like reality shows it has nothing to do with reality.

    But yeah Casey seems to have a dark side. But maybe it’s just the promotion of the movie. I still think he kinda used Phoenix when he was fragile to make this interesting documentary that will make ppl notice him…

  3. Tia C says:

    Agree with Billie, it’s not bold to countersue, it is a standard legal move. Casey’s team is just hoping the plaintiff will back down. I hope she doesn’t! The stories sound believable. My first thought was that Joaquin Phoenix gives the impression of being an unrepentant dick, so anyone who pals around with him probably is too.

  4. snowball says:

    I really wouldn’t be surprised if what this woman claimed is true. These guys are seriously freaky when they’re in public, can you imagine them in private? It is a little damning that she’s so specific, you have to wonder what kind of proof she has, like the text messages. I know I’d save them.

    Atticus Affleck? Yeesh.

  5. Kali says:

    Weathy people get sued often and it’s because they have money, not necessarily because her lawsuit has merit. It’s to her advantage to embellish or lie to maximize her settlement. It’s quite possible she got fired and she made something up to get even.

  6. onyx says:

    I’d say where there is smoke, there is fire.

  7. GatsbyGal says:

    I’d believe this. Casey seems…weird. Like, in a very bad way. I have to imagine he carries a lot of bitterness and anger at not being his better, more attractive, overall more successful brother Ben. Ben really did make off with all the good genes, huh?

  8. purelife says:

    wow his wife looks gorgeous.

    sometimes i think Casey looks untidy.

    I prefer Joaqin.

    If im sexually harassed, i wont ask for money. i want justice by imprisonment or other penalty except money. now she sounds like she just want money because shes not happy or contented or something. sounds fishy to me.so for all of damages or harms she claimed she suffered will get healed if she got USD2M?

  9. rio says:

    I don’t know but I doubt what the woman says.Why does she sue Casey after a year when the harassment happened?It doesn’t make sense.Does it take a year long to make up a story about what Casey did to her?
    BTW,I don’t belive that Joaquin Phoenix could let his favorite sister’s hubby do anything to hurt her.

    Or a bad publicity for the documentary.Anyway I just don’t buy it.

  10. Scarlet Vixen says:

    So, when the massage therapist accusing Al Gore of sexual harassment is super specific she’s making it up, but when this woman releases details to the press she’s telling the truth?

    I think it’s more likely that she’s just pissed she didn’t get paid. And she has every right to be pissed if she did her job and didn’t get paid–for her job. Doesn’t mean you sue your boss for sexual harassment, tho. I think it just makes her sound bitter.

  11. Madison says:

    All the things I’ve read about their weird movie are enough to make me believe there is some truth to this women’s story about Casey. I don’t doubt he said a lot of crude and rude things but she should have expected that type of thing considering the theme of this crazy, rude, crude movie.

  12. huh says:

    @purelife— you can’t sue to have someone imprisoned. That would be up to a prosectutor. You really only get to ask for money in something like this…

    @rio— it often takes a while for a person to find an attorney and then the attorney needs to have the time to interview and investigate the claims and write the complaint.
    And some attorneys like to file right before the statute of limitations to surprise the other side and give them less time to find an attorney and answer the complaint.

    None of that is really suspicious at all.

  13. Annabelle says:

    I believe what the girl said.

  14. Fluffy Kitten Tail says:

    Casey has a real creepy vibe to him.

    I have no doubts this is true.

    And, it takes sometimes years to mount law suits, they aren’t just done in a day.

  15. carrie says:

    he’s a good/great actor in “killer inside me”,”gone baby gone” , “jesse james” or “ocean” movies.
    I guess some people here need to see more good movies and stop to believe the actors act themself in the movies!

  16. Chris says:

    I’m a big Casey Affleck fan, so my first reaction is to not want to believe it. First of all Casey is a vegan for moral reasons which tells me he has integrity. Secondly I doubt he’d be sexually harassing a woman in front of his brother law and third you don’t hire prostitutes to stand around on movie sets, you hire them to…well you know what you hire them to do. Also, Casey and Joaquin have too much artistic integrity and respect for the craft to allow their project to degenerate into the circus MS White is describing. But unfortunately when you throw mud some of it sticks and when it comes to accusations of sexual harassment there’re always plenty of people out there who will “want” to believe it.

  17. Kelly says:

    This whole deal is just completely unsavoury. It’s like everything I hate about celebrity is wrapped up in this douchey project; feigned, attention-seeking disfunction, being just too intense and creative to inhabit the same plane as everyone else, failed polymathic ambitions, fake rejection of materialism etc etc believe me, I could go on all day about timewasting dicks like this. And to think I use to enjoy JP’s acting.

    Do I have a hard time believing this kind of shenanigans from the likes of these two? Not at all. And getting together would just amplify the f*ckery exponentially. I hope this shiz blows up in their face and discredits them both, big time.

  18. Mrs Odie 2 says:

    Just a collection of thoughts here.

    Casey Affleck is awesome in “Gone, Baby, Gone.” The movie is based on my favorite detective series by Dennis Lehane (writer of Shutter Island).

    Summer Phoenix was on Growing Pains as a kid. She was so bad, they had another actress dub her lines.

    I hope the lawsuit has no merit. Having worked in this industry, I have seen men act however they want because everyone wants to be in show business, so there are 500 resumes in the boss’ desk for your job. Women put up with a lot. As an assistant to a producer, I had to watch porn on the job. Because my boss had it on in the office.

  19. Boombeeba says:

    Random but when he was younger (maybe 10 yrs ago) i always thought he favored Syd Barrett in a strange way… Oh, & I’m not a lawyer but all of these accusations this lady made are somewhat lame. I could see if he beat her, but she just sounds bitter IMO

  20. poopie says:

    i can TOTALLY see this guy being a jerkwad as his big brother got ALL of the talent and ALL of the good looks. this little guy is just riding the coat tails of Ben trying to be the BIG MAN. and i can see he and weirdo Joaquin together being maniacs

  21. nel says:

    seriously, she is alleging he and joaquin bang hookers together.

    if that is true, joaquin is sick , cuz casey is married to his sister and he is banging hookers with his brother in love together.

    nasty. nasty nasty. and all these actors and their crafts. BS, you remember lines dont pretend to be wilde or shakespeare.

  22. coucou says:

    He’s cute, but he is a COCK.

  23. gracie says:

    Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix are both extremely talented individuals.
    Their skills as movie actors have NOTHING to do with their merits as human beings.

    I can TOTALLY see all of what Amanda White claims being completely true and accurate. It’s hard for a woman in the industry to stand up to a man because there are just so many powerful men.

    Of course these men want to discredit her and make her look unstable or jealousy or crazy or vengeful. That way they don’t have to pay her or admit that they were being pigs! I mean, duh.

    Loving an actor and thinking they have great talent does not mean you believe them to always be necessarily good and wonderful people. That is just dumb.
    That’s why it’s called ACTING.

  24. pebbles says:

    Am I in the minority here when I think that Casey Affleck is cute?
    Cuter than Ben, even.
    This explains a lot about the despair I’ve experienced in my personal life. Always attracted to the arrogant perverted a– holes…

  25. Iggles says:

    Oh boy. I’d hate if this story is true, but I cannot give Casey the benefit of doubt. Why should he be more believable than her? Because he’s famous?

    If this is not true, I hope Joaquin will be speaking up because this makes him look horrible too.

    If this is true, I hope Casey gets what he deserves. These are terrible allegations.

  26. meme says:

    I belive her. Casey Affleck is a good actor but he’s got a very weird vibe about him. Not like Ben at all.

  27. Jeannified says:

    Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

  28. Obvious says:

    i refuse to believe any of it until there is proof. that’s just my basis on all of these stories for everyone.

    however as she didn’t hire gloria allred i’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. if she went with allred i’d say it’s all for the press and “glory”, but it looks like she has REAL lawyers. congrats lady. now lets see your proof before we pass judgment on you or casey-who may be innocent.

  29. Kim says:

    Wow Is Joaquin so messed up he would be ok with and actually participate in affairs with his brother in law =( lets hope none of this is true.

  30. Cinderella says:

    I believe it. Those Affleck boys just don’t seem very trustworthy in the marriage department.

  31. ks says:

    why can’t she answer for herself,why going around suing???money i guess…

  32. Madison says:

    **timewasting dicks**

    Yep I think that about sums up Casey and Joaquin and their latest movie. JP what a waste of talent shame he ended up like this and Casey, well he’s an Affleck, enough said. I totally believe Amanda White.

  33. Ruffian9 says:

    Strange looking little fucker, isn’t he? Still, I smell bullshit. Cheating on Joaquin’s sister? And Joaquin, as fucked up as he is, being cool with it? Doubtful.

  34. Anon says:

    I’ll say it for both Ben and Casey……

    Has-bens.

  35. Fluffy Kitten Tail says:

    Yes, well Mel Gibson is a talented actor and director, and yet he is a disgusting bigoted, abusive, misogynist pig.

    So what if he is related to Joachin. Those are usually the ties that bind men into major f*ckery.

    Just because they are brother’s in-law, means nothing. People in Hollywood are sick, sexual perverts, and they count on people to dismiss claims like these because of who they are.

    Also, just because someone is a vegan and animal rights activist, doesn’t mean they are not perverted scum bag cheaters. Let’s not forget, a year ago, no one would have thought Tiger Woods was a cheating whore monger either.

  36. feenyix says:

    i have to call bullshit on this one. why would joaquin allow casey to have hookers in the room when casey’s married to his sister?

  37. Zoe says:

    ::Casey seems…weird. Like, in a very bad way. I have to imagine he carries a lot of bitterness and anger at not being his better, more attractive, overall more successful brother Ben. Ben really did make off with all the good genes, huh?::

    What an arrogant point of view. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Casey Affleck act, but he’s a far better actor (and far better interesting one) than Ben. He is also a director and has made movies that were ranked among the best of their year. Attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder, many women would prefer the quiet underdog over the leading man.

    ::”Where there is smoke there is fire…”::

    Yeah, and where there’s money, there are goldiggers. I don’t know if there is any truth to this story or not, but I’m certainly not going to believe it because Casey ‘looks creepy’. You do realize Ted Bundy was considered very attractive, right? There is no correlation between the way something looks and what it is.

  38. Knowing says:

    Some of you believe this was impossible because Joaquin is Summer’s brother? Haha. When Joaquin’s a mess, do you think he notices or cares what goes on? They feed off each other. Even in the retirement video Casey didn’t even know if joaquin had an album or released any music. Casey uses Jay to go out and play. Sheesh.

  39. Verrry creepy dude - says:

    Casey Affleck looks like Ted Bundy, and that alone – without sex allegations – make’s him extremely creepy!!!

  40. Donna says:

    Bah yet another woman using sexual harassment lies to get money out of a celebrity
    Celebrities get sued like this all the time, we just don’t hear about most of them because the women are after money and they settle right away
    It’s much easier to go after men’s money because women can use the sexual harassment lies, and most people are dumb sheep and automatically believe it
    You can’t do it with women. As you can see Brittney Spears man is trying to sue her and the news and media just laugh and make it a joke