Entourage star Kevin Connolly denies sexual assault allegation from 2005

Actor claims the incident, which took place at a wrap party for film Gardener of Eden, was ‘consensual’

Actor Kevin Connolly has denied an allegation published in The Daily Beast that he sexually assaulted a costume designer named Gracie Cox in 2005.

The report claimed that the alleged assault took place when Connolly invited Cox into a VIP area during the wrap party for the film Gardener of Eden.

Connolly, best known for the role of Eric “E” Murphy on the HBO series Entourage, is represented by Martin Singer. Singer’s firm issued a statement about the accusations, which included a categorical denial of assault, stating that the “incident” was “consensual”.

“Kevin strongly supports victims of sexual assault and believes their claims should always be heard,” the statement read.

“As someone who has worked in this industry for four decades, he has treated people with nothing but respect and has maintained a stellar reputation. Therefore, he was completely shocked to learn of the allegations made by Gracie Cox from a wrap party in 2005. The incident with Ms Cox was consensual, and he categorically denies any claim that it was assault.”

In the Daily Beast report, Cox is quoted as saying: “There was not really a chance in my mind to object or resist. It just happened really fast. I froze and was in shock.”

Amy Westcott, the costume designer on the project for whom Cox worked, is said to have confronted Connolly after being told about the incident by Cox. Westcott and two crew members confirmed this to The Daily Beast.

Four of Cox’s friends told the publication that Cox told them about the incident in the days after it transpired. Cox also claimed that she contacted attorney Gloria Allred about the allegations in 2017, but Allred informed her that the statute of limitations had expired, and declined to take the case.

Connolly’s representative’s statement also said: “Kevin completely understands Amy’s displeasure with the consensual act that transpired between Kevin and Gracie 15 years ago, after production had wrapped and they were no longer working together on the movie.”

“Kevin acknowledges the lack of professionalism on his part, but he adamantly denies that it was anything other than a mutual consensual encounter.”