James Dolan accused of sexual assault
Rangers owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein accused of sexual assault
The New York Knicks and New York Rangers are owned by Madison Square Garden Entertainment CEO James Dolan, who was sued in Los Angeles on Tuesday for sexual assault and trafficking. Harvey Weinstein was also accused of sexual assault in the lawsuit.
A federal complaint alleges that Dolan and Weinstein sexually assaulted massage therapist Kellye Croft in 2013 and 2014 while she worked with the Eagles.
Dolan and Weinstein released statements denying the allegations.
In 2013, Croft was hired to travel with Dolan’s band on their “History of the Eagles – Live in Concert” tour. Dolan allegedly made an appointment with Croft in November 2013 and forced himself on her during the second appointment. During a massage, Croft claimed Dolan was “extremely assertive and pressured her into unwanted sexual relations.”
Lawsuit Claims
“Ms. Croft tried to end the massage, but Dolan continued to come on stronger, treating her resistance like a game. Dolan then grabbed Ms. Croft’s hands, dragging her to a couch in the same room and forcing her hands between his knees as he sat down,” the lawsuit claimed.
The lawsuit claimed that Dolan, who is over 30 years older than Croft, continued to make sexual advances toward Croft after the alleged incident.
“She felt disgusted and terrified of the situation, but the extreme isolation she felt from others on the tour, coupled with Dolan’s attention to her, his assertions that he would take care of her, and her recognition that this man held immense power over everyone’s position on the tour—including hers—led her to submit to Dolan’s advances,” the lawsuit alleged.
Harvey Weinstein (L) and James Dolan attend a celebration for Bryan Cranston at House of Elyx on December 13, 2015, in New York City. / Credit: Andrew Toth / Getty Images
The complaint claimed that Croft received an invitation to travel with the Eagles to Los Angeles at the end of 2013, but she agreed without realizing Dolan and his band would still be the opening act.
Croft believed she had been recruited to continue working for the Eagles as a certified masseuse, according to the complaint, but Dolan had “unlawfully trafficked her for his own sexual gratification.”
“Indeed, Dolan expected Ms. Croft to have sexual interactions with him during the tour, and she spent her time either isolated by herself or waiting for instructions from Dolan,” according to the complaint.
Weinstein Accusation
Following her return to the hotel she had been living at in California on January 21, Croft said she was contacted by Weinstein, who supposedly offered to hire her to work on his film sets. The accusation said that after Croft joined Weinstein in his hotel suite to carry on their conversation, Weinstein sexually attacked her.
“Ms. Croft did her best to retaliate, but she remembers that Weinstein seemed enormous in comparison to her. She had difficulty sitting up and pushing him away,” the complaint stated. Dolan’s phone call allegedly cut short the alleged attack, and Weinstein told Croft, “Well, you know Jim and I are best friends.” He will be really unhappy to learn that you led me on, this won’t look good for you.”
Croft’s Statement
In her statement, Croft said, “James Dolan manipulated me, brought me to California to abuse me, and then set me up for a vicious attack by Weinstein.”
Dolan’s legal representative E. Dayna Perry told CBS News, “There is absolutely no merit to any of the allegations against Mr. Dolan. Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship. The references to Harvey Weinstein are simply meant to inflame and appear to be plagiarized from prior cases against Mr. Weinstein. These claims reflect an act of retaliation by an attorney who has brought multiple cases against Mr. Dolan and has not, and cannot, win a judgment against him.”
“Mr. Dolan always believed Ms. Croft to be a good person and is surprised she would agree to these claims,” Perry added. “Bottom line, this is not a he said/she said matter and there is compelling evidence to back up our position. We look forward to proving that in court.”
Weinstein Legal Statement
Weinstein’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said in a statement, “Mr. Weinstein vehemently denies the meritless allegations in the recently filed lawsuit. We look forward to litigating this case in a court of law where the truth will be revealed.”
Croft said that she has “suffered so profoundly” because of the alleged incidents, adding that “it was not an easy decision to come forward and seek justice.”
“My hope is that my lawsuit will force Dolan to acknowledge what he did to me and to take responsibility for the harm he has caused,” Croft said in her statement.
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