Actor Kevin Sorbo has alleged he was sexually harassed by late fashion designer Gianni Versace in the 1980s.
The Hercules: The Legendary Journeys star was discussing the sexual harassment and abuse scandal involving disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein on Adam Carolla’s podcast on Tuesday (24Oct17), when he recalled an incident he reportedly had with the late Versace in the beginning of his modeling career.
“He wanted to meet me because of my height,” he said. “At six-foot, three-inches, he wanted me to do fashion shows with these six-foot tall women.”
Sorbo claimed Versace began inviting him to star-studded dinner parties, but during one meeting in 1984, when it was just the two of them, the openly-gay designer is said to have touched him inappropriately.
“All of a sudden, his hand goes up my leg,” Kevin added. “(I said), ‘Dude, you know I’m straight?’ (He replied), ‘This is why I like you. You’re not a girly man. You are a man’s man…”
The 59-year-old never landed the advertising campaign Versace wanted him to be in, but he stayed friends with the fashion icon until his death in 1997.
“He booked me for his fashion shows but I never got his campaign, but I knew the game, just like I know the game of Hollywood,” he told The Hollywood Reporter after the podcast. “Casting couches have always been around. I don’t play that game, nor do I care to.”
