People
SALT LAKE CITY — Actor Tom Sizemore is denying recent allegations that he groped an 11-year-old Utah girl during a 2003 photo shoot.
Sizemore called the claims “highly disturbing” in a statement late Thursday. He lamented his history of drug abuse and domestic violence arrests, but said he would never inappropriately touch a child.
A Salt Lake City police report said the girl reported that Sizemore kissed and groped her during production of the movie eventually titled “Born Killers.” Utah prosecutors didn't file charges, citing witness and evidence problems.
The report said the woman responsible for juvenile performers didn't see inappropriate touching. A lawyer said Sizemore was fired from the production. Sizemore said he was allowed back after an investigation.
Sizemore's career has included prominent roles in “Saving Private Ryan” and “Black Hawk Down.”
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SHANGHAI — Supermodel Gigi Hadid said Friday she will not be walking the Victoria's Secret fashion show in Shanghai next week, a few months after Chinese Internet users accused her of racist behavior.
Hadid said in a post on her Twitter account: “I'm so bummed I won't be able to make it to China this year. Love my VS family, and will be with all my girls in spirit!!”
Hadid did not give a reason and Victoria's Secret refused to comment on the issue.
The surprise exit comes months after a video of Hadid triggered an outpouring of criticism on Chinese social networks. It showed Hadid squinting in a way that appeared to be a reference to a stereotype about Asian facial features.
Hadid responded by apologizing in September on China's popular Twitter-like microblog site, Weibo. “I have learned to be very careful of how my actions can come off or be portrayed, and I'm hopeful you'll accept my apology,” the post said.
It was not immediately clear whether Hadid had been denied a visa. Asked about this at a regular briefing, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry said he was unclear about the issue.
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NEW YORK — Meryl Streep said the two times in her life she dealt with violence were so profound it changed her “on a cellular level.”
Streep made the remarks Wednesday at the Committee to Protect Journalists' 27th annual International Press Freedom Awards in New York. The Oscar-winner told the audience she did “know something about real terror.”
She recounted two incidents, one in which she said she was attacked and “played dead and waited until the blows stopped.”
Streep then described another incident when someone else was being abused.
She said in that case, she “went completely nuts” and chased the man off. It was after telling the stories that Streep said the experiences changed her permanently.
Streep did not give any more details, other than to say Cher witnessed the second incident.
By The Associated Press
