Director of ‘The Fighter’ Accused of Groping Transgender Niece’s Breasts
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GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images(BROWARD COUNTY, Fla.) — An investigation has been launched into an allegation made against Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell by his 19-year-old transgender niece.
Russell, the director of The Fighter, is accused of allegedly touching the breasts of his niece, who was born male and is in a preoperative phase of her transition, TMZ reported Thursday.
According to the TMZ, Russell had joined the niece for a workout at a South Florida hotel gym on Dec. 30 and was asking questions about her breasts and the effect of hormones she’s taking to enlarge them when he touched them.
According to a police report filed three days after the incident, the niece told authorities she felt “uncomfortable,” but admitted she “did not ask him to stop at any time.”
According to the police report, when Russell was contacted by investigators, he confirmed he did touch his niece’s breasts but only after she had given him permission.
A police officer noted in the report that Russell stated his niece “is always causing drama since the transgender transformation and has become very provocative and seductive.”
The Broward County Sheriff’s Department told TMZ the case is currently under investigation and authorities plan to re-interview both parties. Reps for Russell have not been available for comment.
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