AceShowbiz -

Shortly after news of director Bryan Singer being sued for sexual abuse broke out, his lawyer commented on the issue, saying that the allegations were "completely without merit." The "X Men" director's attorney Martin Singer told The Wrap on Wednesday, April 16 that he only learned about the lawsuit from media.

"We are very confident that Bryan will be vindicated in this absurd and defamatory lawsuit," he told the site. "It is obvious that this case was filed in an attempt to get publicity at the time when Bryan's new movie is about to open in a few weeks." The 48-year-old director's upcoming project "X Men: Days of Future Past" is set to be released next month.

Singer was accused of sexually abusing a man named Michael Egan at a house in Encino, Calif. in 1999. At that time, Egan was 17 years old. Besides, the movie director allegedly provided him alcoholic drinks and drugs. Singer was also said flying Egan to Hawaii on more than one occasion.

"Hollywood has a problem with the sexual exploitation of children," Egan's lawyer Jeff Herman said in a statement released to media. "This is the first of many cases I will be filing to give these victims a voice and to expose the issue."