“I missed this and feel like I let down a younger cast member,” actress writes
James Dimmock/E! Entertainment
“The Royals” star Elizabeth Hurley has released a statement addressing the sexual harassment allegations against series creators and showrunner Mark Schwahn.
In the open letter shared via social media on Thursday, Hurley wrote that she was “immensely saddened” by the allegations and said she never personally experienced harassment by Schwahn.
“I have loved working alongside Alexandra [Park] and Mark for four years while shooting ‘The Royals,’” Hurley wrote, “and had absolutely no idea that she was feeling frightened and sexually intimidated by Mark during this time.”
Also Read: ‘The Royals’ Female Cast, Crew Call Showrunner Mark Schwahn Sexual Harasser in Letter
“I have nevet thought of myself as unobservant, in fact quite the opposite, but I missed this and feel like I have let down a younger cast member,” she continued. “I could have helped her. I would have helped her. But I didn’t know.”
Hurley’s statement comes a day after Park shared her own response to the allegations against Schwahn, saying that she had also “been exposed to this reprehensible behavior.”
Earlier this week, the female cast and crew members of Schwahn’s last show, “One Tree Hill,” accused him of inappropriate behavior toward women during the show’s seven-season run. On Wednesday, Lionsgate, which produces the show, said it had suspended Schwahn as it conducts an investigation into his behavior.
Following their lead, 25 women from “The Royals” signed an open letter accusing Schwahn of similar behavior.
Also Read: Mark Schwahn Suspended From ‘The Royals’ Amid Sexual Harassment Investigation
“Yes, he flirts and tells risque jokes — but so do I,” Hurley said. “To hear that there was more than this is a shocking surprise,” Hurley wrote. “I never witnessed it. The set of The Royals was a very happy one, full of laughter and fun. Mark was always in the centre of this and it seemed to me that the cast and crew had the most fun when Mark was directing an episode.”
“I may have failed Alexandra but it won’t happen again on my watch,” she wrote.
I have loved working on The Royals. I am devastated by recent reports. This is my statement. pic.twitter.com/7c7VCAgPjr
— Elizabeth Hurley (@ElizabethHurley) November 16,2017
34 Hollywood and Media Heavyweights Accused of Sexual Misconduct Since Harvey Weinstein
Brett Ratner
Six women have accused the director and producer of sexual misconduct, including Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge. Ratner’s lawyer says no woman has ever requested or received any financial settlement from Ratner.
Fallout: Ratner chose to personally step away from all Warner Bros. related activities, and Playboy put Ratner’s biopic about Hugh Hefner on hold. Ratner has filed a libel lawsuit against one of his accusers, Melanie Kohler. Getty Images
James Toback
Hundreds of women contacted an LA Times reporter to accuse Toback of sexual harassment and assault, including Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams, Julianne Moore and Caterina Scorsone.
Fallout: Just before the LA Times story broke, Toback told Rolling Stone that anyone who has accused him, “is a lying c—sucker or c— or both.” Toback and Harvey Weinstein are both under investigation by the Beverly Hills police department. Getty Images
Mark Halperin
Halperin sexually harassed five women while political director at ABC News over a decade ago. A sixth woman, journalist Emily Miller, said she was “attacked” by him.
Fallout: NBC News terminated Halperin’s contract as a special contributor, Showtime, which airs Halperin’s show “The Circus,” cut ties with the journalist, and CAA dropped him from their client list. Halperin issued a lengthy public apology. Getty Images
Kevin Spacey
Actor Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed that Spacey made a sexual advance on him three decades ago when Rapp was 14. More than a dozen other individuals subsequently came forward with claims of sexual harassment or assault, including an anonymous former actor who said Spacey tried to rape him when he was 14.
Fallout: Spacey apologized to Rapp and also came out as gay, which was widely criticized. Netflix since announced that “House of Cards” would end and halted production on the sixth and final season. The Old Vic theater in London, where Spacey was artistic director, also opened a confidential tip line. Getty Images
Louis C. K.
Five women accused C. K. of masturbating in front of them or requesting to in a New York Times report. The comedian later admitted the allegations were true in a statement, stopping short of apologizing for the behavior.
Fallout: HBO, Netflix, FX and TBS all cut ties with the comedian, dropping his projects from their networks. The premiere of his film “I Love You, Daddy” was canceled, and he was cut from “The Secret Life of Pets 2.” His publicist, manager and touring agent all dropped him as a client. Getty Images
Dustin Hoffman
Anna Graham Hunter, who worked with Hoffman as a production assistant, said Hoffman attempted to grope her four times and made a lewd comment while on set.
Fallout: Hoffman issued an apology, saying it was “not reflective of who I am.” Later that same day, a second woman accused him of sexual harassment. Getty Images
Michael Oreskes
Two women told The Washington Post Oreskes made unwanted sexual contact towards them while he was Washington bureau chief of The New York Times.
Fallout: Oreskes was forced to resign as Senior Vice President of News and Editorial Director at NPR. Getty Images
Jeremy Piven
Actress Ariane Bellamar, a former Playboy Playmate, tweeted that Piven groped her on the set of “Entourage” and at the Playboy Mansion, twice cornering and fondling her. Actress Cassidy Freeman later accused Piven of “predatory behavior.”
Fallout: CBS is looking into the situation, and Piven has “unequivocally” denied the allegations and offered to take a polygraph test to prove his innocence. Getty Images
Ed Westwick
The “Gossip Girl” star has been accused of sexual assault by two women, including actress Kristina Cohen, who said Westwick forced himself on her while she was napping at his house. Westwick denied the allegations, calling them “provably untrue.”
Fallout: Westwick said he was “cooperating with the authorities” on an investigation to clear his name. The BBC announced that it pulled his drama series “Ordeal by Innocence” from its schedule, and the production company behind the series “White Gold” said he had “paused” filming in light of the allegations. Getty Images
Andy Dick
Sources close to the production “Raising Buchanan” told The Hollywood Reporter Dick’s misconduct on set included kissing, licking, groping and making lewd propositions toward at least four members of the production.
Fallout: Dick was fired from the production of “Raising Buchanan” and from the film ” Vampire Dad .” Dick denied the groping claims but said it was “possible” he licked people. Getty Images
Roy Price
Amazon Studios head Price allegedly told “The Man in the High Castle” producer Isa Hackett, “You’ll love my dick,” during a cab ride.
Fallout: Amazon placed Price on a leave of absence. Getty Images
Chris Savino
Several female employees at Nickelodeon accused “The Loud House” showrunner of sexual assault, with 12 other women accusing him of sexual misconduct and threats of being blacklisted.
Fallout: Nickelodeon fired Savino, but will continue to air and produce the show. Savino has since apologized. Getty Images
Andrew Kramer
Lionsgate international COO Kramer was investigated for an accusation of inappropriate behavior toward a female assistant.
Fallout: Kramer left Lionsgate, but the company’s internal investigation was ruled “inconclusive.”
Ken Baker
Three women anonymously spoke with TheWrap claiming Baker, an E! News correspondent, sent inappropriate text messages and in one instance groped a woman at a party.
Fallout: E! is investigating the accusations and Baker will not appear on air during the investigation. Baker said in a statement to TheWrap that the “anonymous allegations are simply not true, and, frankly, are heartbreaking to hear.”
Ben Affleck
Affleck grabbed actress Hilarie Burton’s left breast while on air during an appearance together on MTV’s “Total Request Live.”
Fallout: Affleck wrote on Twitter, “I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.” Getty Images
Andy Signore
Several women alleged sexual misconduct against Signore, the creator of the YouTube series “Honest Trailers.” Signore was accused of sexual assault, sending inappropriate messages and making lewd comments to employees.
Fallout: His employers at Defy Media and Screen Junkies fired Signore following an investigation. Getty Images
Bill O’Reilly
After being fired from Fox News earlier in April, it was reported in October by the New York Times that O’Reilly paid $32 million to settle sexual harassment claims from a coworker.
Fallout: O’Reilly told Matt Lauer he’d done “ absolutely nothing wrong ” and that this was “a political and financial hit job.” Fox
Tyler Grasham
Actor Blaise Godbe Lipman said APA agent Grasham fed him alcohol and sexually assaulted him when the actor was in his late teens. Actor Tyler Cornell filed a police report claiming the agent sodomized him. And teen Brady Lindsey described predatory behavior by Grasham.
