David Copperfield Accused of Sexual Misconduct by 16 Women in Guardian Investigation

A total of 16 women have accused David Copperfield of sexual misconduct, with over half the accusers saying they were under 18 at the time of the alleged incidents with the famed illusionist, according to an investigation by The Guardian published Wednesday.

Some of the claims say the now 67-year-old magician drugged and assaulted them. The allegations span from the late 1980s to 2014, the Guardian reported, and include former model Brittney Lewis, whose accusations were first reported by TheWrap in 2018.

Reached by the British paper, Copperfield denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers said he “never acted inappropriately with anyone, let alone anyone underage,” and added that he is a “champion of the #MeToo movement.” The lawyers said it wasn’t the first time that “false claims” have been raised against the magician.

A rep for Copperfield did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Among the 16 accusers is Lewis, who came forward with allegations that Copperfield drugged and assaulted her when she was 17. Copperfield denied the allegations, which were first published by The Wrap in 2018.

Another woman told the Guardian of a similar experience, saying Copperfield drugged and assaulted both she and a friend after they agreed to meet with him for a post-show drink in 1993. Copperfield told the Guardian that “drugs were not part of his world,” and that he was not performing at the time of the allegations.

In a handful of other cases, women claimed Copperfield groped them or made them touch him suggestively during stage performances. One, who was 15 at the time, has family witnesses who say he touched her breasts; that case was investigated by Las Vegas police and dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Several women told the Guardian that Copperfield promised help with their careers; one said she met the magician at a show in 1991, after which he began caller her regularly, sending her gifts and tickets before beginning a consensual relationship after she turned 18. His lawyers acknowledged the relationship but said the illusionist “strongly denies any suggestion of grooming or any other impropriety.”

Emily Smith contributed to this report.

The post David Copperfield Accused of Sexual Misconduct by 16 Women in Guardian Investigation appeared first on TheWrap.