The Joaquin Phoenix rapper project has taken an entirely new and perhaps even stranger twist as THR, Esq. is reporting that I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix director Casey Affleck is being sued by producer Amanda White for sexual harassment that occurred during the two-year-long filming of the mockumentary. Complicating matters further is the fact Affleck is married to, and has two children with, Phoenix’s sister Summer.
In papers filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court White makes damaging claims against Affleck’s reputation. Among the numerous accusations the producer claims that:
“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?'”
White goes on to claim that while filming in Vegas Affleck hired prostitutes to be on set but that none of the hooker footage appears in the film. She states that she and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka were subjected to scenes that were for Affleck’s own gratification and “for reasons having nothing to do with the purpose of the project.” In addition White also sites that while filming in San Francisco Affleck requested that she share a room with him and that when she refused he “became hostile and aggressive” and “violently grabbed her arm in an effort to intimidate her into staying.”
Affleck and his attorneys are not taking this threat lightly. They intend on a counter-suit, with attorney Michael J. Plonsker aggressively stating:
“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.”
^Kevin Winter/Getty Images
White is seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 million dollars for the ill effects of the alleged misconduct including; 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.
You can download a PDF of the lawsuit and all of the allegations from The Hollywood Reporter by clicking HERE.
Top Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
