Journalist Susan Braudy detailed her sexual misconduct allegations against Michael Douglas on “Today”
Journalist Susan Braudy is speaking out in her first TV interview about the sexual abuse allegations she’s leveled against Michael Douglas. On Friday, January 19th, Braudy appeared on Today to detail the frequent harassment she endured when she worked for the actor’s company, Stone Bridge Productions, in the 1980s. She also alleges that he once masturbated in front of her during a work meeting at his home.
She said that Douglas frequently belittled her at work, made lewd comments to and in front of her, and often talked about her appearance. When speaking about the incident at his home, she recalled,
“He slid down the floor, unbuckled his belt and put his hand inside his trousers and I could see what he was doing. Then he began to sort of began to fondle himself, Braudy told NBC News’s Kate Snow. “And I was very scared. [...] He thought he was the king of the world and that he could humiliate me without any repercussion."
Braudy said she was terrified to come forward at the time but did confide in several friends, who advised her to not speak of the encounter. “One of my friends said you better not tell people about him. People were frightened for me,” she said.
Her accusations against Douglas first came to light when he preemptively denied the claims in an interview with Deadline.
“I can’t believe that someone would cause someone else pain like this," he said. "Maybe she is disgruntled, her career didn’t go the way she hoped, and she is holding this grudge. It has caused tremendous stress to me for something I believe I have nothing to regret or feel responsible for.
You can watch Braudy’s Today interview below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y76zqEQ3Qqc?feature=oembed
While this has unfortunately become a “he said, she said” situation, men often attempt to discredit women who come forward with claims against them by attacking their character and motivations. This is nothing new. What is new is that women are finally feeling safe enough to come forward with stories about powerful men who have hurt them. We stand with Braudy and all victims who have come forward to speak their truth.