This story includes a detailed account of sexual assault.
In an account posted on Facebook, actress Kristina Cohen accused Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick of raping her three years ago.
In the post, Cohen wrote that this month has been difficult due to the resurfacing of the hashtag #MeToo, which ultimately led her to share her story.
"Like so many women I too have a story of sexual assault, and the outpouring of stories have been both triggering and emotionally exhausting," Cohen wrote. "I’ve gone back and forth over and over again, unsure if I should speak up."
Cohen said that a producer, whom she briefly dated, took her to Westwick's house where she met Westwick for the first time. She felt uncomfortable after Westwick immediately said, "We should all fuck.”
After the comment, Cohen said she wanted to leave, but Westwick insisted that they stay for dinner. The producer didn't want to leave and make Westwick feel awkward. Again, Cohen said she was tired because she wanted to get out of the already awkward situation, and then Westwick suggested she take a nap in a guest bedroom. The producer said that they would stay for another 20 minutes to smooth everything over and then leave. Cohen then went into the guest room and eventually fell asleep. She continued:
I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to fuck me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn’t speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.
After the incident, the producer put the blame on her, saying that she was an active participant and that she didn't want to be "that girl" who accused celebrities of rape. He told her that there was no way she could accuse him, because Westwick would have "destroyed her." This is what led her to stay silent, until the recent outpouring of sexual assault allegations.
She added that it makes her sick for Westwick to be respected in a public way, including that he was honored at the Oxford Union Society at Oxford University as one of their "People Who Shape Our World."
"How does this end?" Cohen wrote. "Men like Ed using fame and power to rape and intimidate but then continue through the world collecting accolades."
Westwick has denied the accusation in an Instagram post.
"I do not know this woman," Westwick wrote. "I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape."
Westwick is known for his role in the TV show Gossip Girl, where he played Chuck Bass. He currently stars in the BBC Two series White Gold.
If these allegations are true, my pre-teen self is upset. However, 20-year-old me is not surprised by the actions of famous men anymore.
