Editor’s note: Michael Coleman’s lawyer has since written to Global News casting doubt on the credibility of one complainant, claiming that another complainant had recanted their allegation in writing and suggesting Coleman had filed a formal complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. Global News has been unable to corroborate any of his claims. The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal declined to confirm whether a complaint had been filed by Coleman as it “does not make complaints public” except in cases in which a decision is issued or a complaint is on its hearing list.
An actor best known for a role on the TV series Once Upon a Time is denying sexual harassment allegations that have been leveled against him by four women.
Michael Coleman, an acting school instructor, mentor and 25-year industry veteran who played Happy on the Steveston-shot series, held a press conference on Friday to respond to allegations that first surfaced at the height of the #MeToo movement in October.
“Any allegations against me are at best a wrong interpretation of events,” Coleman said.
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“None of these complaints have resulted in any formal claims,” he said, not naming the complainants.
“There are no formal investigations, there’s nothing civil, criminal, nothing through my union, anything.”
The first of the allegations against Coleman emerged at a film industry town hall that was organized by the Union of B.C. Performers in October.
Three other women have come forward since then.
The allegations include one that Coleman tried to kiss a woman at a private coaching session, and that he took a woman’s hand and placed it over his groin area while they were working on a community play.
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Coleman said he said something funny and that the woman reached over to slap his leg, hit him in the groin and was in tears later.
Another woman has alleged that, in an online chat, he said, “If you were an Eggo, I would eat you.” Coleman believes that message was sent from a fake account.
“I’ve never kissed a student, I’ve never tried to kiss a student,” Coleman said at the press conference.
“I’ll take it a step further, I’ve never kissed a staff member, I’ve never kissed an instructor, I’ve never tried to kiss a staff member, I’ve never tried to kiss an instructor.”
At the press conference, people also rallied in support of women who had come forward with allegations.
“I know for a fact he lied,” said Lisa Ovies, the owner of Rogue Studios.
“And that’s only myself. I don’t know how many other people here want to talk about it and I’m putting no one on it.
“But I can say without hesitation that pretty much everybody in there that was a supporter and sat silently and respectfully and watched, all heard lies.”
But Coleman also had supporters at the press conference.
“I’m sorry to all the woman if there’s people that have felt there was misunderstandings or things that happened that were uncomfortable for them, but I have never seen that,” said actress Maggie Blue O’Hara.
Coleman said he’s considering legal action against those making defamatory comments about him on social media.