Michael Douglas has been accused of sexual harassment by a former employee, days after preemptively denying it

• Michael Douglas was accused of sexual harassment by the writer Susan Braudy in interviews with The Hollywood Reporter and "Today" on Friday.
• Braudy alleged that, during her employment under Douglas in the 1980s, the actor subjected her to profane comments and masturbated in front of her.
• Douglas preemptively denied the allegations in a Deadline article on January 9.
• He called the allegations "an unfortunate and complete fabrication" to THR.

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Actor Michael Douglas was accused of sexual harassment by the writer Susan Braudy in interviews with The Hollywood Reporter and "Today" on Friday, ten days after Douglas preemptively denied the allegations in a Deadline article. 

Braudy alleged that, during her employment under Douglas in the 1980s, the actor subjected to her profane language, demeaning comments about her appearance, and masturbated in front of her while the two were working out of his Manhattan home.

"He slid down the floor, unbuckled his belt and put his hand inside his trousers and I could see what he was doing. Then he began to sort of began to fondle himself. And I was very scared," Braudy said in an interview with "Today."

"He thought he was the king of the world and that he could humiliate me without any repercussions," she continued.

A rep for Douglas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Douglas called Braudy's allegations "an unfortunate and complete fabrication" in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Braudy backed up her story to THR with notes and files she kept during her employment under Douglas, and with the testimony of three people she had told of her experiences.

Watch Braudy discuss her allegations against Douglas with "Today" below:

Douglas responded to THR's story with the following statement:

"This individual is an industry veteran, a senior executive, a published novelist and an established member of the women's movement — someone with a strong voice now, as well as when she worked at my company more than three decades ago. At no time then did she express or display even the slightest feeling of discomfort working in our environment, or with me personally. That is because at no time, and under no circumstance, did I behave inappropriately toward her.

Coarse language or overheard private conversations with my friends that may have troubled her are a far cry from harassment. Suggesting so does a true disservice to those who have actually endured sexual harassment and intimidation."

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source http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-douglas-accused-of-sexual-harassment-after-preemptively-denying-it-2018-1