Terry Crews publicly named the “high-level Hollywood executive” that he claims groped him at an industry party.
During an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Crews shared details about the incident and identified Hollywood agent Adam Venit as his alleged sexual abuser.
“Back in February 2016, I was assaulted by Adam Venit, who is head of the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor, one of the biggest agencies in the world, period,” Crews said.
READ MORE: Terry Crews files police report about alleged groping by ‘high-level Hollywood executive’
Crews continued: “He’s connected to probably everyone I know in the business. I did not know this man. I have never had a conversation with him, ever.”
Crews said he was with his wife, Rebbeca King-Crews, at the party when he claims Venit was “basically staring at me, and he’s sticking his tongue out — just overtly sexual kind of tongue moves.”
“He comes over to me. I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals,” Crews said. “I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey.’ And he’s still sticking his tongue out and all this stuff and I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? What are you doing’ and then he comes back again. He just won’t stop.”
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Crews continued, “I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified.”
Crews said that he immediately told comedian Adam Sandler, who was represented by Venit, about the alleged encounter.
READ MORE: Actor Terry Crews says he was groped by ‘high-level Hollywood executive’
The White Chicks actor said he didn’t plan on coming forward with his story until the public allegations against Harvey Weinstein prompted others to discuss their own experiences with sexual harassment using the hashtag #MeToo.
“I will not be shamed. I did nothing wrong,” Crews said. “What kind of man would I be to tell my kids, ‘If someone touches you where you don’t want to, tell someone,’ if I’m not doing it myself?”
Earlier this month, Crews filed a police report against Venit. Los Angeles police officer Sal Ramirez said that Crews had filed a report on Nov. 8.
READ MORE: James Van Der Beek says he was sexually harassed by ‘older, powerful men’
“People have to be held accountable,” the actor said. He also told a TMZ camerman he plans to file a lawsuit against his alleged sexual abuser.
Variety reported that Venit was on leave from his agency, WME, pending an investigation into Crews’ allegations.
In a 16-tweet thread last month, Crews wrote, “This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates. Jumping back I said What are you doing? My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk.”
Venit has not commented on Crews’ allegations as of this writing.
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