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 "He thought he was the king of the world, and that he could
humiliate me without any repercussions," journalist and author
Susan Braudy said on NBC News' "Today" show.
Douglas, 73, issued pre-emptive denials of the story in articles
published over the last two weeks, including one in which he
called it a fabrication. His publicist, Allen Burry, said on
Friday there would be no further comment.
The allegations against Douglas were the latest in a lengthy
series of accusations by women and men who say they were
victimized by high-powered men in the entertainment industry.
Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian
Louis C.K. are among the most prominent men to have been
accused.
Braudy, a former executive at Warner Bros. studios, worked for
Douglas' production company for three years.
She said Douglas repeatedly used sexual language in
conversations and that his behavior escalated during a work
meeting at his New York apartment in 1989 where he groped his
crotch in front of her.
"He slid down to the floor, unbuckled his belt and put his hands
inside his trousers," Braudy told NBC News. "And I could see
what he was doing and then he began to fondle himself and I was
very scared."
She said she then panicked and ran for the door.
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She said in the interview that she had told several friends about
the incident soon afterwards but was "terrified" to speak out
publicly at the time.
Douglas, in an item published by the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday,
called Braudy's account of an incident at his apartment "an
unfortunate and complete fabrication." He acknowledged inappropriate
discussions, but challenged Braudy's claims of a hostile workplace,
the publication said.
Last week, in an interview with the entertainment industry website
Deadline, Douglas denied masturbating in front of a woman who worked
for him about 30 years ago, without further identifying her.
"I felt the need to get ahead of this," he told Deadline. He said he
learned in December that multiple publications were investigating
the claim.
Douglas, who won an Academy Award for best actor in 1988 and for
best picture in 1976, said he supported the #MeToo movement by those
breaking their silence over past sexual harassment or misconduct,
and that he had the support of his wife, actress Catherine
Zeta-Jones, and his children.
(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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