Magician David Copperfield was recently accused of sexual misconduct by several women.

Copperfield’s net worth is an estimated $1 billion, and he is one of the most successful illusionists in the world. However, his reputation has been damaged by sexual assault allegations spanning from the late 1980s to 2014, and more than half of the women involved in these alleged incidents claim that they were under 18 at the time.

Three women alleged that Copperfield drugged them, rendering them unable to provide consent when Copperfield engaged in sexual activities with them. Three other women claimed that he groped them during his onstage performances. Others said his behavior was inappropriate, given their age difference and power imbalance.

In an interview with The Guardian, one woman claimed that she was picked from thousands on stage during a show she attended to be a part of Copperfield’s trick. After the show, one of Copperfield’s assistants approached her and asked her and her female friend if they wanted to join Copperfield for a drink, to which they agreed. The two had a drink in a bar and were later taken to Copperfield’s suite, where Copperfield gave them each a bit of sambuca. From then on, the woman said that she began to feel “weird” and later “blacked out.”

“I am 56 years old now,” she said. “Never in my life have I had a time where I don’t consciously remember [a period] … I would never just say this to somebody if I didn’t truly, honest to God, believe that I was drugged at that time.”

Other women alleged similar experiences of meeting Copperfield at his shows and being chosen from the audience to join him on stage.

Copperfield’s lawyers have denied any of the women’s claims and said that his behavior “is the opposite of everything he stands for and works hard for.” 

Former employees also alleged that Copperfield often asked his assistants to help lure women to join him after his shows.

“I never saw anybody who was unwilling to come, but I felt the power dynamic just seemed very wrong. Like these were very young women,” one of his assistants told The Guardian.

Some employees of Copperfield, though, claimed that they never witnessed any unusual behavior from their boss.

Copperfield was previously accused of sexual assault in 2018 by model Brittney Lewis.

Read more about:

Leave a comment

Subscribe to the uInterview newsletter