Update: "Gossip Girl" Actor Ed Westwick Cleared of Rape Charges

[JamesG]

"Gossip Girl" Star Ed Westwick Accused of Rape
by Sadie Gennis
Nov. 7, 2017


Actress Kristina Cohen has accused "Gossip Girl's" Ed Westwick of raping her three years ago.

In a Facebook post shared on Monday, Cohen says that a producer she was dating at the time was friends with Westwick and brought her to the actor's home. When Westwick allegedly "suggested 'we should all f---,'" Cohen told the producer she wanted to leave.

According to Cohen, the producer didn't want to make Westwick feel uncomfortable and pressured her into staying. When Cohen said she was tired, Westwick reportedly suggested she take a nap in his guest bedroom. But when Cohen woke up, the actress says Westwick was sexually assaulting her.





Cohen's post reads: "So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to f--- me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me."

Afterwards, Cohen says the produced blamed her, "telling me I was an active participant," she says. "Telling me that I can't say anything because Ed will have people come after me, destroy me, and that I could forget about an acting career. Saying there's no way I can go around saying Ed 'raped' me and that I don't want to be 'that girl.'"





Cohen says she believed the producer at the time, but now has realized that this was a tactic used to protect powerful men at the expense of their female victims. As Cohen explains, watching so many women come forward with their stories of sexual assault over the past month inspired her to finally share her own story publicly for the first time.

"I hope my coming forward will help others to know that they are not alone, that they are not to blame, and it is not their fault. Just as the other women and men coming forward have helped me to realize the same," Cohen writes. "I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters."



Representatives for Westwick did not immediately respond to TV Guide's request for comment.

http://www.tvguide.com/news/ed-westw...ristina-cohen/

[Mr. Television]

Hollywood is so corrupt.

[TMC]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-claim-1055474

Since Kristina Cohen posted on Facebook her account of the alleged February 2014 rape that she says took place at the former Gossip Girl star's apartment, her sister and close friend have corroborated her account, telling The Hollywood Reporter that they were told the story three years ago. Meanwhile, Westwick responded to Cohen’s claim on Twitter: “I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.”

[JamesG]

LAPD Investigating Actress Kristina Cohen's Ed Westwick Rape Claim
by Chris Gardner
11/7/17


Actress Kristina Cohen has filed a police report at LAPD's Hollywood precinct following claims that she was raped by Ed Westwick in his home three years ago. A copy of the report was shared with THR for verification and states that police are investigating the claim that “suspect forced victim to have sexual intercourse inside his residence ... three years ago.”

The move comes just hours after Westwick responded on Instagram to Cohen's claims of rape, posting a statement that read, "I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-claim-1055885

[JamesG]

Second Woman Accuses Ed Westwick of Sexual Assault
by David Robb
November 8, 2017


A former actress has come forward accusing "Gossip Girl" star Ed Westwick of raping her in 2014. The allegation comes just days after actress Kristina Cohen claimed Westwick raped her in February 2014.

Westwick denied Cohen’s claims on Tuesday.




Aurélie Wynn, whose stage name was Aurelie Marie Cao before she gave up acting, wrote on Facebook today that Westwick raped her in July 2014. She says she told her boyfriend about it, but he didn’t believe her, blamed her and broke up with her.

According to Wynn, when she told her friends about the alleged incident, they told her not to tell anyone – that she didn’t want to be “that girl,”
and that no one would believe her.




Said Wynn said in her post:

“I am so incredibly thankful all of this is finally coming to light and that there is justice in the world. I believe you Kristina Cohen and thank you for speaking up so eloquently and really encompassing what young female actresses have to go through at the hands of men like Ed Westwick. Without you I would not have had the strength to speak up publicly about my ordeal. #metoo”

http://deadline.com/2017/11/ed-westw...im-1202204751/

[JamesG]

Ed Westwick Calls Sexual Assault Claims "Unverified," Hopes To Clear his Name
by Nick Romano
Nov. 9, 2017


"Gossip Girl" alum Ed Westwick is hoping to clear his name in the wake of a second claim of sexual assault.

“It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of two unverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct,” Westwick, 30, wrote in a statement published to social media on Thursday.

“I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.”

http://ew.com/tv/2017/11/09/ed-westw...ssault-claims/

[Mr. Television]

I'll repeat Hollywood is so corrupt. Just don't know who to believe anymore.

[JamesG]

Actor Ed Westwick Accused of Sexual Assault by Third Woman
by Ryan Parker
Nov. 15, 2017


Ed Westwick has been accused of sexual assault by a third woman.

Rachel Eck told Buzzfeed News that the "Gossip Girl" star forcefully groped her in 2014 on the evening before the Oscars. Friends of Eck verified her account.



The 23-year-old executive assistant at the time told Buzzfeed News that while with a friend at a multi-bedroom villa at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood, the actor tried to kiss her several times before he "pulled me onto the bed and aggressively groped me,” she said, referring to her breasts. “I shoved him off as quickly as I could and left.”

This is the third woman in weeks to accuse Westwick of sexual assault.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-woman-1058482

[HuntingtonM15]

I think it's almost about time these guys start coming clean on their own because every last one of them is going to soon be exposed.

[JamesG]

Jessica Szohr Reacts to Ed Westwick Allegations: "The Truth Will Come Out"
by Amanda Bell
Nov. 22, 2017


Actress Jessica Szohr, whom Ed Westwick shared the screen and a real-life relationship with during their time on the hit CW series "Gossip Girl", spoke to Cosmpolitan about the accusations lodged against him and seemed to want to give him the benefit of the doubt when it came to his vehement denial that he was guilty of the crimes alleged.





She was asked what processing the news has been like for her.

"It’s a difficult subject right now for anyone that’s involved on either side … I don’t even really know how to answer it, if I should, because I don’t want anything to get twisted, because I have known Ed for years and know how lovely he is, and don’t think he would ever put someone in a position like that.

It’s difficult, because you don’t want someone you know to go through that or do that to someone, or knowing them well, knowing that you don’t think they would, and you don't want, for the girls that are coming forward, it’s like, are they stretching the truth? It’s just, it’s a touchy, tough thing that you pray it’s not true and that with, outside of even him, all these different topics coming up, I’m glad that there’s notice being put on it for women that are going through it.

But I also think it’s a touchy, crazy thing too, because some people are going into these different situations and they’re not coming out true. So it’s like, well, why are people making it up, because that takes away from the girls that are going through it. And then it’s also hard to go back and try to get evidence from things that were so long ago. So, I’m really trying to answer this as open and nicely as I can, because it is touchy, and I obviously for any of these situations, wasn’t there, for either side, so I can’t say it did or didn’t happen.

But I know him well and I’ve known him for years, and I found it shocking. And I hope that it’s untrue, but I also feel bad for anyone that’s been in that situation, for the women that have to deal with that, for the situations that are true."





Szohr added that she has been in contact with Westwick following the accusations and the resulting suspension of airing his BBC series "Ordeal by Innocence" and filming on "White Gold".

"He’s going through a difficult time. He’s being accused of something that he’s publicly saying he didn’t do. So it’s, you know, tough on him. His show got canceled. You know, he’s like, 'The truth will come out and hopefully people see that and hopefully that’s it.'

It’s just such an unfortunate thing all around. And I have to be so careful, because it’s not my situation and I don’t — I wasn’t there. So it’s hard to speak on behalf of those girls or him.

I don’t know those girls at all, and they could be lovely and awesome and all that. From the Ed I know and working with him for five years and having a friendship through all of that and after, it was shocking. It was shocking."





Asked whether she believes the accusers or not, Szohr responded:

"I mean, from the person I know, I find it shocking, because I can’t see him doing that to someone. And it’s a tough thing because I wasn’t there for those situations and I don’t know. But if you’re asking me "Do I think he would do that to someone?" No, I don’t. But was I there? No.

I’m so sorry, I’m trying to answer it in a way — this could get very sticky if this gets printed and my words get twisted, it’s not gonna be great."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/jessica-...s-ed-westwick/

[TMC]

Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick is being investigated over a 2014 rape allegation
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing a sexual assault allegation that actress Kristina Cohen detailed in a Facebook post on Nov. 6. Weswick tweeted a denial of the allegation, saying: “I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.”

[TMC]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Ed Westwick Calls Sexual Assault Claims "Unverified," Hopes To Clear his Name
by Nick Romano
Nov. 9, 2017


"Gossip Girl" alum Ed Westwick is hoping to clear his name in the wake of a second claim of sexual assault.

“It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of two unverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct,” Westwick, 30, wrote in a statement published to social media on Thursday.

“I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.”

http://ew.com/tv/2017/11/09/ed-westw...ssault-claims/

Ed Westwick deletes past tweets denying sexual assault allegations
The news of his deletions comes four days after the Los Angeles District Attorney's office confirmed it was reviewing one of the sexual assault allegations against the former Gossip Girl star.

[JamesG]

Ed Westwick Cleared of Rape Charges after “Insufficient Evidence”; L.A. D.A. Botches Release with Incorrect DOB & More
by Dominic Patten
July 27, 2018


Over four months after the Los Angeles County District Attorney confirmed that it was investigating Ed Westwick for multiple allegations of sexual assault, Jackie Lacey’s office today said that the "Gossip Girl" alum will not be charged.

“Three separate women recently reported to law enforcement that suspect sexually assaulted them at three different times in 2014,” stated the D.A.’s office in a July 17 charge evaluation worksheet made public Friday.

“Victim 1 alleged an assault and identified potential fresh complaint witnesses, the paperwork explained. Victim 2 alleged an assault and said two people were present at the location but outside of the room where the assault occurred. Those witnesses were not able to provide information that would enable the prosecution to prove either incident beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution on those two incidents is declined due to insufficient evidence.”

“The investigating officer tried numerous times but was unsuccessful in contacting Victim 3 for a follow-up investigation and a pre-filing interview,” the worksheet added. “Prosecution is declined on this incident due to unavailability of the victim. Other women made allegations of unwanted touching. Those acts were outside of the statute of limitations.”





Of course, not that the end of week release from the District Attorney’s office didn’t have an element of the Keystone Kops to it – if it wasn’t riddled with significant errors initially.

In a clearly very very serious matter, earlier paperwork from Lacey’s team had the 31-year old actor’s date of birth listed in the 1950s. The over a week old worksheet also had an incorrect citation code that labeled Westwick with an additionally potentially damning charge.

Contacted by Deadline about this, the L.A. D.A. Media Relations Unit said they would be sending out a correction “when they had time.” It took almost an hour for the corrected version to be distributed.





Soon after actress Kristina Cohen went public in late 2017 with the claims of rape against Westwick, the BBC dropped the actor from its "Ordeal by Innocence" drama and halted his appearance in "White Gold".

In quick succession more claims were leveled against Westwick, who denied them in now removed social media posts.





However, Westwick’s lawyer was anything but quiet today after the correct version of the L.A. D.A. paperwork was released.

“The evidence demonstrated from the start that each of the allegations made by the three women would be proven untrue,” Hollywood heavyweight criminal attorney Blair Berk told Deadline.

“It is a shame there are those who so publicly prejudged this case and that it took this long for Ed to be fully cleared,” the lawyer continued. “I hope that those who made such quick judgment here not knowing anything about the abundant evidence of innocence in this case will hesitate next time before they so swiftly condemn before investigating the truth.”

https://deadline.com/2018/07/ed-west...rk-1202435080/