Actresses Accused of Sexual Assault

Stories about misconduct in entertainment aren’t confined to one gender, and a handful of high-profile cases have involved women facing serious accusations or charges. Below are notable instances where actresses or entertainers with acting credits were publicly accused of sexual assault or related sexual offenses; in each case, you’ll find key dates, what was alleged, how the accused responded, and where things stand legally.

Asia Argento

In August 2018, a report said Asia Argento agreed in 2017 to a $380,000 settlement with actor Jimmy Bennett, who alleged she sexually assaulted him in a California hotel in 2013 when he was 17 (the state’s age of consent is 18). Argento publicly denied the allegation, later saying her late partner Anthony Bourdain encouraged the payment to avoid negative publicity; text messages and a photo that surfaced afterward complicated the narrative, and her lawyer subsequently acknowledged a sexual encounter while disputing Bennett’s account. Bennett issued statements describing the impact on him and why he initially stayed silent. No criminal charges were filed, but the civil settlement and the public claims made this a landmark #MeToo-era case involving a prominent accuser becoming an accused.

Melanie Martinez

In December 2017, musician and actress Melanie Martinez—who also starred in the feature-length project ‘K-12’—was accused by former friend Timothy Heller of sexual assault in a detailed social-media statement describing non-consensual acts. Martinez issued multiple denials that week, stating she would “never be intimate with someone without their absolute consent,” and later released a song widely interpreted as a response. The accusations prompted fan backlash and media coverage; Heller reiterated her account in follow-up interviews. No criminal case resulted from the public allegation, and both sides’ statements remain on record.

Tiffany Haddish

In September 2022, a civil lawsuit filed in California accused Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears of child sexual abuse related to past sketch content; Haddish’s attorney called the claims “bogus,” and Haddish said she regretted participating in the sketches. Days later, the plaintiff moved to dismiss the case with prejudice, and a federal judge granted the dismissal, which means it cannot be refiled. Haddish said the suit nonetheless caused professional fallout. No criminal charges were filed in connection with the lawsuit’s allegations.

Zara Phythian

British actress and martial artist Zara Phythian—who appeared in ‘Doctor Strange’—was tried in the U.K. and, in May 2022, convicted on 14 counts of sexual activity with a child relating to offenses committed when the victim was between 13 and 15. The court also convicted her husband on the same counts plus additional indecent-assault charges; Phythian received an eight-year prison sentence. The case stemmed from historical allegations investigated by Nottinghamshire Police and prosecuted in Crown Court. Her conviction makes this one of the few recent, fully adjudicated sex-offense cases involving a female performer.

Have other cases you think we should cover or update with new legal outcomes? Share your thoughts in the comments.