Magician David Copperfield refutes sexual misconduct claims in The Guardian
Magician David Copperfield has refuted claims of sexual misconduct and assault, as reported by The Guardian on Wednesday.
Magician David Copperfield has denied the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that were published in a report by The Guardian on Wednesday. In an email to CNN the same day, a representative for Copperfield stated that most of these accusations had been previously made and that they are all untrue.
In response to an exposé by The Guardian, David Copperfield made a statement regarding accusations of sexual misconduct or assault made by 16 women. Some of the women claimed they were underage during the alleged incidents. One woman stated that she and her friend were drugged before Copperfield engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with them.
The article included testimonies from women who had previously shared their allegations publicly, as well as from those who were speaking out for the first time in interviews with the publication.
The Guardian reported that allegations against David Copperfield span four decades, from the late 1980s to 2014. More than half of the women involved claim they were under 18 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, with two stating they were 15 at the time.
In response to the allegations, a statement from Copperfield's representative emphasized that those who know him would attest to the fact that the recent accusations are completely contradictory to his character. The statement highlighted Copperfield's history of taking risks to protect women from powerful individuals. Additionally, Copperfield requested the evidence supporting the false allegations, but it has not been provided.
On Thursday, The Guardian released a second article that included claims from five additional women. They all stated that they had encountered Copperfield during a modeling contest. One of the women accused Copperfield of drugging and sexually assaulting her when she was 17 years old, shortly after the competition.
CNN is unable to verify the stories as they were shared by women who chose to remain anonymous. At this time, CNN is not aware of any legal inquiries or criminal charges against Copperfield in connection to these accusations.
David Copperfield's representative stated that the characterization by The Guardian does not accurately reflect who David is, referring to the allegations as "false and scurrilous."
In response to Copperfield's representative's statement, Matt Mittenthal, head of communications for The Guardian US, told CNN that The Guardian's reporting stands on its own and is still ongoing.
The representative for Copperfield has not replied to CNN’s request for comment regarding the Guardian’s report that was published on Thursday.
