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Jian Ghomeshi: more women come forward with sexual violence allegations against ex-CBC host Jian Ghomeshi: more women come forward with sexual violence allegations against ex-CBC host
(about 3 hours later)
New allegations of violent sexual abuse have been levelled against Jian Ghomeshi, the prominent Canadian broadcaster who was fired as a presenter of a flagship public broadcasting network show. New allegations of violent sexual abuse have been levelled against Jian Ghomeshi, the prominent Canadian broadcaster who was fired as a presenter of a flagship interview show.
The Toronto Star, which first detailed allegations by four women against Ghomeshi after the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) sacked him at the weekend from his cultural affairs show, Q, published a lengthy new story on Wednesday night with similar accusations from four more women, including the Canadian actor Lucy DeCoutere. All had similar stories of how, during sex, Ghomeshi was violent without their permission. The Toronto Star, which first detailed allegations by four women against Ghomeshi after the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) sacked him at the weekend from his cultural affairs show, Q, published a lengthy new story on Wednesday night with similar accusations from four more women, including the Canadian actor Lucy DeCoutere. The Huffington Post on Thursday printed a first-person account from another woman, Reva Seth.
DeCoutere – who is a star of the Canadian comedy series Trailer Park Boys and a captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force – is the first of Ghomeshi’s accusers to allow herself to be named. All had similar stories of how, during sex, Ghomeshi was violent without their permission.
Ghomeshi, one of Canada’s most popular broadcasters, is fighting CBC’s decision to fire him with a lawsuit filed on Monday. He denies he ever forced his partners into rough sex and portrays his sexual tastes as a “mild version of Fifty Shades of Grey”, the bestselling erotic romance centred on an S&M relationship. As well as hiring a legal team, he has also engaged one of Canada’s top crisis-management firms. He issued a new statement on Thursday, saying he would address the latest claims, but had not done so by the time of publication of this article. As the allegations mounted on Thursday, the crisis-management firm engaged by Ghomeshi announced it would not longer be working with him.
The mounting allegations – which date back to 2002 – raise new questions about a culture at CBC that allowed Ghomeshi’s alleged behaviour to go unchallenged. Some of the women say they met him at CBC events or at the CBC offices, while others say they encountered him during a 2012 book tour or at media and film festivals. DeCoutere – who is a star of the Canadian comedy series Trailer Park Boys and a captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force – was the first of Ghomeshi’s accusers to allow herself to be named. On Thursday afternoon, a ninth woman, lawyer Reva Seth, joined her, publishing a blog post on the Huffington Post in which she said that she had heard DeCoutere on CBC’s The Current and decided to speak up.
Ghomeshi, one of Canada’s most popular broadcasters, is fighting CBC’s decision to fire him with a lawsuit filed on Monday. He denies he ever forced his partners into rough sex and portrays his sexual tastes as a “mild version of Fifty Shades of Grey”, the bestselling erotic romance centred on an S&M relationship. He issued a new statement on Thursday, saying he would address the latest claims, but had not done so by the time of publication of this article.
The latest allegations – which date back to 2002 – raise new questions about a culture at CBC that allowed Ghomeshi’s alleged behaviour to go unchallenged. Some of the women say they met him at CBC events or at the CBC offices, while others say they encountered him during a 2012 book tour or at media and film festivals.
DeCoutere told the Toronto Star that she met Ghomeshi at the Banff television festival in in 2003. “She recalls him telling her how famous he was and ‘How lucky you are to be with me’,” the paper reported. When she later met him at his Toronto home, DeCoutere alleges he “pushed her against the wall, choked her with his hands around her neck and then slapped her three times,” the paper said.DeCoutere told the Toronto Star that she met Ghomeshi at the Banff television festival in in 2003. “She recalls him telling her how famous he was and ‘How lucky you are to be with me’,” the paper reported. When she later met him at his Toronto home, DeCoutere alleges he “pushed her against the wall, choked her with his hands around her neck and then slapped her three times,” the paper said.
Seth said in her Huffington Post piece that Ghomeshi had assaulted her in 2002, after a dinner. “Suddenly, it was like he became a different person. He was super angry, almost frenzied and disassociated,” she wrote.
Another of the women to come forward is a CBC producer in Montreal “who dreamed of being on Q”. According to the Star, she alleges that Ghomeshi took her to his hotel room, threw her against the wall and was very “forceful” with her. She told the Star that she performed oral sex “to get out of there”.Another of the women to come forward is a CBC producer in Montreal “who dreamed of being on Q”. According to the Star, she alleges that Ghomeshi took her to his hotel room, threw her against the wall and was very “forceful” with her. She told the Star that she performed oral sex “to get out of there”.
“The woman, who still works in the media but not at CBC, said she decided not to complain about his behaviour because she feared he was too powerful,” the story continued.“The woman, who still works in the media but not at CBC, said she decided not to complain about his behaviour because she feared he was too powerful,” the story continued.
Another woman told the Star that Ghomeshi “grabbed her hair and pulled her down to the floor,” then “delivered three sharp punches to the side of her head” at his home. A third said that he whipped her and choked her with his belt, leaving her with “deep bruising on her body.” A fourth said that he bit her on the face.Another woman told the Star that Ghomeshi “grabbed her hair and pulled her down to the floor,” then “delivered three sharp punches to the side of her head” at his home. A third said that he whipped her and choked her with his belt, leaving her with “deep bruising on her body.” A fourth said that he bit her on the face.
Two of the women featured in the Star’s story say that before the alleged assaults Ghomeshi introduced them to a stuffed toy bear called Big Ears Teddy, which, according to the Star, he turned around just before he hit or choked them, saying: “Big Ears Teddy shouldn’t see this.”Two of the women featured in the Star’s story say that before the alleged assaults Ghomeshi introduced them to a stuffed toy bear called Big Ears Teddy, which, according to the Star, he turned around just before he hit or choked them, saying: “Big Ears Teddy shouldn’t see this.”
It also emerged on Wednesday that, in April, a Twitter account called “@BigEarsTeddy” sent a series of tweets directed at Ghomeshi’s account alleging further abuse.It also emerged on Wednesday that, in April, a Twitter account called “@BigEarsTeddy” sent a series of tweets directed at Ghomeshi’s account alleging further abuse.
Hi there @jianghomeshi. Remember louring me to ur house under false pretences? Bruises dont lie. Signed, every female Carleton U media grad.Hi there @jianghomeshi. Remember louring me to ur house under false pretences? Bruises dont lie. Signed, every female Carleton U media grad.
Another tweet from the same account hints at the existence of a video of Ghomeshi punching the author. The account has been inactive since those tweets in April.Another tweet from the same account hints at the existence of a video of Ghomeshi punching the author. The account has been inactive since those tweets in April.
Yes, a friendly FYI @jianghomeshi to cement your great depression,Yes, a friendly FYI @jianghomeshi to cement your great depression,
snuck a viddy of you punching me – OOPS this is my confession #staytunedsnuck a viddy of you punching me – OOPS this is my confession #staytuned
On Monday, Ghomeshi filed a lawsuit in Toronto’s superior court of justice against CBC, claiming C$25m (£14m) in damages for breach of confidence, C$25m in damages for defamation, and C$5m in punitive damages. Any suggestion that Ghomeshi engaged in non-consensual sex with his partners and physically abused them is false, the suit says.On Monday, Ghomeshi filed a lawsuit in Toronto’s superior court of justice against CBC, claiming C$25m (£14m) in damages for breach of confidence, C$25m in damages for defamation, and C$5m in punitive damages. Any suggestion that Ghomeshi engaged in non-consensual sex with his partners and physically abused them is false, the suit says.
The Guardian placed multiple calls to Ghomeshi’s lawyers for comment. All went unreturned, as did a call to his PR firm. CBC was also approached for comment. Ghomeshis lawyers said they had no comment at this time.
A spokesman for CBC said: “CBC treats these issues very seriously and in accordance with our corporate policies. We look forward to the opportunity to fully disclose the facts of these matters.”
Navigator issued a statement saying it was no longer representing Ghomeshi. “Regrettably, the circumstances of our engagement have changed and we are no longer able to continue,” it said.
In a long and emotional Facebook post on Sunday, Ghomeshi wrote: “In the coming days you will hear about how I engage in all kinds of unsavoury aggressive acts in the bedroom. And the implication may be made that this happens non-consensually. And that will be a lie.”In a long and emotional Facebook post on Sunday, Ghomeshi wrote: “In the coming days you will hear about how I engage in all kinds of unsavoury aggressive acts in the bedroom. And the implication may be made that this happens non-consensually. And that will be a lie.”
He called it “salacious gossip”, and said it was the work of a jilted former lover. They had joked about their relationship being a “mild form of Fifty Shades of Grey”, he said.He called it “salacious gossip”, and said it was the work of a jilted former lover. They had joked about their relationship being a “mild form of Fifty Shades of Grey”, he said.
Soon after the statement was posted, the Star published its first story in which three women anonymously claimed that Ghomeshi had abused them physically; a fourth, also anonymous, claimed he had “cupped her buttocks” and told her he wanted to “hatef--- her.”Soon after the statement was posted, the Star published its first story in which three women anonymously claimed that Ghomeshi had abused them physically; a fourth, also anonymous, claimed he had “cupped her buttocks” and told her he wanted to “hatef--- her.”
Jesse Brown, the freelance investigative journalist who has been pursuing the story with the Star, told the Guardian that more alleged victims were emerging. “We are receiving more and more allegations, more people coming forward,” he said, adding that there were “also questions about who knew what when”.Jesse Brown, the freelance investigative journalist who has been pursuing the story with the Star, told the Guardian that more alleged victims were emerging. “We are receiving more and more allegations, more people coming forward,” he said, adding that there were “also questions about who knew what when”.
In a new post to his Facebook page on Thursday, Ghomeshi said: “I want to thank you for your support and assure you that I intend to meet these allegations directly.” It adds: “I don’t intend to discuss this matter any further with the media.”In a new post to his Facebook page on Thursday, Ghomeshi said: “I want to thank you for your support and assure you that I intend to meet these allegations directly.” It adds: “I don’t intend to discuss this matter any further with the media.”