Son of Hollywood director involved in water polo abuse lawsuit at Harvard-Westlake

Lawsuit Alleges Racial and Sexual Abuse at Prestigious LA School

A private school in the Los Angeles area is facing serious allegations following a lawsuit that claims three water polo teammates, one of whom is the son of a well-known film director, engaged in racial and sexual abuse over several years.

The civil suit was brought by Aidan Roman, a former student and water polo player at Harvard-Westlake School. Roman alleges he endured ongoing racist and sexual harassment from his teammates during his time there.

The lawsuit names Lucca van der Woude, along with the school administration, specifically Principal Richard B. Commons and men’s water polo program director Jack Glover. Van der Woude is the son of Thomas “Basti” Van der Woude, a significant figure in Hollywood known for his work on shows like “Fear the Walking Dead” and “Westworld.”

Van der Woude was once seen as a strong candidate for the Olympics and had even been selected to play water polo at UCLA, a highly reputed program. His current status on the team remains unclear, but the allegations have shocked many.

The lawsuit claims from August 2022 to February 2024, Roman, who was a minor at the time, faced sexual assault, harassment, and humiliation primarily from three of his teammates. It mentions that these acts often occurred in front of faculty and staff at the school.

According to the details, Roman was the only freshman to make the varsity water polo team in 2022, but the abuse began right at the first practice when van der Woude allegedly assaulted him in the water. The complaint describes a pervasive culture of violence and humiliation encouraged by the school’s staff, stating that reporting such incidents felt like a betrayal and that silence was the only way to fit in.

Roman claims he was also subjected to constant racial slurs, including the repeated use of the N-word. In a particularly disturbing incident, the suit alleges van der Woude and another unnamed teammate whipped Roman with a rope and rubber band while making references to slavery.

In 2024, van der Woude was arrested and subsequently admitted in juvenile court to sexual penetration of a minor, leading to a $50,000 restitution order to Roman in early 2025.

The lawsuit asserts that Harvard-Westlake, which charges $54,900 in tuition, was aware of the abuse yet took no action. Currently, Roman resides in Barcelona, where he continues to train.