Halle Berry and Taraji P Henson respond to allegations against manager Vincent Cirrincione by minority women

Hollywood figure is accused of using the two stars as ‘bait’ in an effort to get aspiring actresses to comply with sexual requests

Vincent Cirrincione with Taraji P Henson at the 2015 Emmy Awards (Getty)

Taraji P Henson and Halle Berry are among the actresses who have responded to allegations against their former manager Vincent Cirrincione, who is accused of sexually harassing women of colour over a 20-year period.

Nine women have accused Cirrincione of sexual harassment. He is known for helping advance the careers of minority women, including Henson and Berry.

Speaking to the Washington Post, the women alleged that Cirrincione regularly used Berry’s and later, Henson’s, stardom as “bait” in an effort to get them to comply with his sexual requests.

Cirrinncione, who is white, allegedly demanded sex from the actresses of colour as a condition for representing them and refused to take them on as clients when they said no. Those he did work with claim he made regular requests for sex. One woman said he masturbated in front of her during meetings in his office.

Cirrincione told The Washington Post that he accepted responsibility for pursuing sexual relationships, but denied allegations that he sought sexual favours in exchange for representing actresses. He apologised to the women but characterised all of his interactions with women as “consensual.”

Henson, who stars in the new film Proud Mary, posted on Instagram in response to the reports. She said she was “shocked, hurt, offended and yet again put professional women in a position to not trust the men they work with.”

“Everyone knows how difficult this industry has been for women and my hope is that all of these unspeakable events ignite true change in the treatment of women in this entertainment business,” she wrote.

Henson has yet to publicly sever professional ties with Cirrincione, who has managed her career for two decades. Pam Sharp, Henson’s publicist, is Cirrincione’s longtime girlfriend.

Her Empire co-star Jussie Smollett was the first of Cirrincione’s roster of more than two dozen clients to publicly announce that he has “severed all ties with Cirrincione & associates” after the reports of his misconduct emerged.

“I am both angry and completely heartbroken,” he tweeted on 3 February.

Berry told the Washington Post that she immediately terminated her relationship with Cirrincione more than three years ago after hearing a radio report about a misconduct allegation against him — a story that had not been previously reported. Cirrincione disputes her account of how their relationship ended.

Berry also said Cirrincione never made any inappropriate gestures towards her. Hours after the report was published last Friday, she posted a statement on her social media accounts which said the stories of his alleged abuse made her “sick”.

“I’m livid that he used me, and the role model he helped me become, to lure and manipulate innocent, vulnerable women of colour for his predatory actions,” Berry wrote. “I’m deeply hurt and I want these women and countless others to know I see you. I hear you. You matter. I will fight for you.”