A massage therapist claims she was pressured into having sex with Madison Square Garden boss James Dolan in 2013, then sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein months later, according to a new lawsuit.
In an assault and sex-trafficking lawsuit filed in California federal court Tuesday, Kellye Croft, now 38, claims Dolan initially befriended her while she was working as a masseuse on a 2013 tour featuring the Eagles and Dolan’s band JD and Straight Shot.
A lawyer for Dolan called the case “without merit” on Tuesday, arguing that the inclusion of the toxic name of convicted sex offender Weinstein was intended to “inflame”.
“Mr. Dolan is surprised he would agree to these allegations,” E. Danya Perry said in a statement.
“There is strong evidence to support our position.”
Evidence seen by The Post included a flirtatious email Croft sent Dolan – after she claimed to have “compulsorily submitted to sex,” with him.
The suit accuses Knicks owner James Dolan of pressuring a masseuse to have sex in 2013. WireImage Kellye Croft, now 38, claims Dolan initially befriended her while he was working as a masseuse on a 2013 tour featuring the Eagles and Dolan’s band, JD and the Straight shot.
According to the suit, Croft was initially hired to join the tour — which was partially funded by Dolan’s business — to provide massages for late Eagles frontman Glenn Frey.
However, Croft was allowed to massage Dolan and other members of the band and crew as part of his deal.
Court papers allege Dolan scheduled a date with Croft, and noted she appeared upset during one sequence.
Croft told Dolan that he had been ostracized by other tour members after they blamed him for the sacking of Eagles manager Tom Golseth, with whom he had argued before he was kicked off the tour.
Dolan, he said, promised to deal with the situation and soon after, Frey began contemplating asking for Croft’s forgiveness.
“Frey called Ms. Croft and apologized to her repeatedly and profusely for the situation with Golseth,” the suit says.
The accuser was initially hired to provide massage services to Eagles frontman Glenn Frey. Toronto Star via Getty Images
The suit alleges Croft joined the tour again in Miami in November and she said “I told you I’ll take care of her,” before making sexual advances toward the end of the sequence.
Croft told her she was not interested in a sexual relationship and stated in the suit that Dolan was 30 years her senior and married at the time.
She was “disgusted and scared” but succumbed to sex because of Dolan’s position of influence, the suit states.
However, Croft continued to have sex with Dolan several times after that initial encounter and gave her professional massages during that visit, according to the suit.
“Ms. Croft was disgusted with Dolan, but her youth and extreme silence on the road … allowed Dolan to manipulate Ms. Croft and seduce her [his] control,” the suit, filed by attorney Douglas Wigdor, argued.
However, The Post has received correspondence from December 2014, long after Croft claimed she had broken free of Dolan’s “unwanted advances” and “highly manipulative” behaviour.
Croft was initially hired to provide massages for late Eagles frontman Glenn Frey, according to the suit.
The email Croft sent contained a link to a hardcore porn site that it said was “more realistic erotic massage porn than most,” and wished Dolan a Merry Christmas.
He then offered “a little something extra” in the form of a picture of a naked woman with her cleavage exposed but her hands partially covering her breasts.
Speaking on Croft’s behalf, Wigdor said she had sent Dolan a link to an erotic site and “personal pictures” to “divert his request” and added victims of sexual assault “can and do continue to have complicated relationships with their abusers.”
However, Dolan’s attorney noted how Wigdor previously filed a lawsuit against him on behalf of former Knick Charles Oakley regarding his 2017 ejection from Madison Square Garden.
“This lawsuit reflects retaliation by an attorney who has brought several cases against Mr. Dolan and has not, and cannot, win a judgment against him,” Perry said.
Dolan’s lawyers say the suit is meritless. WireImage
Croft’s suit further describes how he joined the Eagles in California in late 2013 when they were doing a residency in Los Angeles.
She was once again involved in a sexual relationship with Dolan – and Croft believes the business giant has developed deeper feelings for her.
They were all staying at the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills, where Croft met Weinstein after a day of shopping while waiting for an elevator, according to the suit.
Weinstein started the conversation, saying he was friends with Dolan, and mentioned he had an opportunity to be a masseuse on the set of his film.
Dolan’s band, JD and the Straight Shot, were touring with the Eagles at the time. Getty Images
According to the suit, she agreed to discuss the scenario in Weinstein’s suite, where she began demanding massages.
When Croft refused, Weinstein is said to have told her: “Well, this is how people do things in Hollywood … If you’re unreasonable and can’t handle things quickly, you’re not going to make it in Hollywood.”
She eventually left her suite and headed to her own room, but Weinstein allegedly followed her into her room wearing only a robe, pinned her down on the bed and tried to penetrate her, the suit said.
At that point, the phone rings, and Croft tells Weinstein that Dolan may be trying to end his lead, which turns out to be true and gives him a chance to leave.
The suit alleges Dolan arranged a meeting between Kellye Croft and Harvey Weinstein. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
“You know Jim and I are good friends,” Weinstein allegedly told her. “He’s going to be very upset that you’re leading me on. This will not look good on you.”
Croft said she later told Dolan what happened and that he told her Weinstein was “troubled” and that both she and another friend of the mogul – who at the time had not yet been publicly accused of sexual manipulation – had urged her to get help.
The suit alleges Dolan arranged for Weinstein to meet him in the hotel lobby, without elaborating.
Traumatized, Croft left the tour and returned to Tennessee. The case — which seeks unspecified damages — alleges Croft’s experience led to depression and drug use.
A lawyer for Weinstein, who is currently serving 39 years in prison for sex crimes in New York and Los Angeles, denied the incident.
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean told The Post: “Mr. Weinstein vehemently denies these dishonorable allegations and hopes to litigate these claims in a court of law where the truth will be revealed.”
Croft’s lawsuit was filed as part of a newly opened window for historical sex offenses that occurred in California between 2009 and 2019. The look-back window will remain open until 2026.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
