The 'Private Life of a Modern Woman' director is accused of preying on young attractive women and masturbating in front of them.
- Oct 22, 2017
AceShowbiz - Another Hollywood figure is caught up in sexual harassment scandal. Director/writer James Toback is accused by 38 women of sexual harassment. The women told Los Angeles Times that Toback approached them in the guise of scouting new talents to work in the industry.
He boasted of his Oscar nomination for writing the Warren Beatty movie "Bugsy". He also bragged about directing Robert Downey Jr. and being a close friend with the actor. He even had an article written about him at the ready in case his targets needed more convincing.
The filmmaker allegedly targeted women in their early 20s. He would invite them to his hotel room or frame a meeting or audition in a public park. He would asked the women embarassing personal questions, dry-humped them or masturbated in front of them, and left after ejaculating.
The director vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that he had never met any of the women ot, if he did, it "was for 5 minutes and have no recollection." He also claimed that it was "biologically impossible" for him to engage in the behavior described by the women because he had diabetes and a heart condition that required medication.
Toback's sexual harassment spanned decades just like Harvey Weinstein's misconduct. Louise Post, now a guitarist and vocalist for indie band Veruca Salt, said that she met Toback in 1987 when she was still in college. "He told me he'd love nothing more than to masturbate while looking into my eyes," she recalled. "Going to his apartment has been the source of shame for the past 30 years, that I allowed myself to be so gullible."
She first went public with her story on Twitter in response to "#MeToo" social media movement that encouraged sexual assault survivers to speak up. "Us too: by bosses, boyfriends, male babysitters, taxi drivers, strangers and movie director/pig #jamestoback #metoo," so she wrote.
Us too: by bosses, boyfriends, male babysitters, taxi drivers, strangers and movie director/pig #jamestoback #metoo
— Veruca Salt (@verucasalt) October 16, 2017
Actress Echo Danon was another of Toback's victims. He reportedly knelt in front of her in his movie trailer, put his hands on her thighs, and asked her to look into his eyes and pinch his nipples. "Everyone wants to work, so they put up with it," she said. "That's why I put up with it. Because I was hoping to get another job." On Twitter, she added, "If you were involved in the film business in the '90s you knew that #harveyweinstien was a sexual predator.Another one was #JamesToback."
If you were involved in the film business in the '90s you knew that #harveyweinstien was a sexual predator.Another one was #JamesToback
— Echo Danon (@echodanon) October 11, 2017
James Toback, now 70 years old, is married with one son. His latest movie "The Private Life of a Modern Woman" premiered at Venice Film Festival this year. It starred Sienna Miller and Alec Baldwin.
