The magician David Copperfield accused of sexual abuse by 16 girls (a few of them minors on the time)

Based on an investigation by the US Guardian, the well-known American magician David Copperfield has been accused by 16 girls of getting engaged in “incorrect and inappropriate sexual conduct”. Greater than half of the allegations got here from girls who mentioned they have been below 18 on the time of the abuse: some mentioned they have been as younger as 15, though he might not have been conscious of their age.

Among the many fees towards him are these of getting drugged three girls earlier than having sexual relations with them. The allegations towards the 67-year-old illusionist – which he has denied – span from the late Nineteen Eighties to 2014. His legal professionals advised the Guardian that he “by no means behaved inappropriately with anybody, not to mention minors”. Guardian Us is inspecting these allegations primarily based on interviews with greater than 100 individuals and court docket and police paperwork.

Copperfield, whose actual title is David Seth Kotkinhe, is 67 years previous. Between 1994 and 1999 he was linked to the mannequin Claudia Schiffer. The accusations will not be the primary for sexual harassment of which he has been subjected: after a primary lawsuit in 2007 which resulted in failure to proceed, in 2018 Copperfield was reported for having drugged and assaulted a youngster 40 years earlier. In 2024, the magician’s title additionally emerged within the contact lists of pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The costs this time embody claims that the illusionist drugged three girls earlier than having sexual activity with them with out consent. Three different girls say they have been subjected to indecent touching throughout reside performances. In one other case, a lady mentioned he grabbed her hand and compelled her to the touch him inappropriately: she was 16 on the time and her household was within the viewers.