Kate Beckinsale Reveals Teen Assault by Crewmember and On-Set Abuse in Hollywood

Kate Beckinsale Opens Up About Sexual Assault Experience During Her Teenage Years

In a powerful revelation, actress Kate Beckinsale has shared that she was sexually assaulted by a crew member when she was just a teenager working in Hollywood. The 51-year-old star opened up about her traumatic experience, emphasizing that such predatory behaviors are still prevalent in the film industry today.

Beckinsale, inspired by Blake Lively’s recent lawsuit against her co-star Justin Baldoni, decided to break her silence. She pointed out that the mistreatment that Lively described is not a new phenomenon, lamenting that this type of abuse has been a fixture in Hollywood for years.

In an emotional video message, she recounted, “At 18, I was inappropriately touched by someone I trusted on a crew.” She approached a prominent actress at the time, known for her advocacy of women’s rights, only to be dismissed with the words, “No it didn’t happen.” Another actress to whom she confided also repudiated her claims, leaving Beckinsale feeling unsupported and unheard.

Frustration boiled over as she addressed the comments made by some men suggesting that the industry has made significant progress. “No, it isn’t,” she asserted. “If you’re a woman with a valid complaint about being groped or insulted, you’re left in the cold.”

Beckinsale further revealed that she faced unwanted names and derision for expressing her concerns about a co-star who was reportedly intoxicated daily during filming. She recalled, “I endured a film where I was referred to on walkie-talkies as ‘that c—‘ for complaining about having to wait six hours for my drunken co-star to show up.”

The Underworld actress detailed a particularly harrowing episode where she was required to participate in a photoshoot despite suffering from a miscarriage. She also described an actor being “rough” with her on what she called a toxic set.

She clarified that contrary to speculation, the co-star in question was not Ben Affleck, with whom she worked on Pearl Harbor. Defending Affleck, she stated that he showed her tremendous respect throughout the production. Addressing the rumors, Beckinsale responded directly to a fan’s comment insinuating Affleck’s involvement by saying, “Ben Affleck protected me on an extremely toxic film set and could not have behaved more respectably.”

Beckinsale concluded her remarks by highlighting the broader issue at play—the fear and repercussions that arise when one speaks out about misconduct. She urged caution against focusing solely on the actions of specific individuals, instead advocating for a cultural shift where speaking up does not lead to punishment or ostracism.

This candid discussion sheds light on the persistent issues of abuse and disregard faced by women in the entertainment industry, revealing the urgent need for change.

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