Former Disney Actress Accuses Company of Ignoring Abuse
Raquel Lee, a former child actress known for her role on Disney and Nickelodeon productions, has accused the entertainment giant of neglecting to address the sexual abuse she experienced while working on set. Lee, who participated in 14 episodes of The Amanda Show from 1999 to 2000, claims she was repeatedly raped and abused by a Disney employee during the making of the 2001 film The Poof Point.
At just 14 years old during filming, Lee alleges that a man in his middle age groomed her before sexually assaulting her. This accusation was made in a lawsuit where she also cited Disney’s negligence in the matter, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The lawsuit details incidents where the alleged abuse took place in a hotel room in Salt Lake City, where filming occurred. Lee further states that she was abused during a flight to Los Angeles and recalls that this individual would often whisper inappropriate comments in her ear while on set. She describes how he would use hugs to inappropriately get close to her.
Lee’s lawsuit claims that the abuse happened openly, in front of the cast and crew, and was audible to sound technicians managing the microphones. Additionally, she asserts that the employee frequently made sexually explicit jokes around underage actors but that nobody at Disney intervened.
In her filing, Lee also suggests that Disney retaliated against her by damaging her career, accusing her of being “out of control.” She mentions that after complaining about her abuse, a subsequent role was canceled, effectively costing her an acting job.
Doug Wigdor, Lee’s attorney, emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Over the last decade, countless child actors have come forward to bravely share their experiences of abuse by adults in entertainment. This conduct is inexcusable, and those involved — directly or indirectly — must be held accountable.”
Wigdor has previously represented other notable cases, including those involving Sean “Diddy” Combs and Harvey Weinstein. The lawsuit also notes that Disney has faced numerous allegations in the past, asserting, “This is not the first time that Disney has enabled a sexual predator to target and abuse vulnerable victims.”
Lee embarked on her acting career at the age of 12 in 1998, appearing in various sitcoms like The Hughleys and The Bernie Mac Show. She has also lent her voice to characters in the cartoon series The Proud Family and its reboot, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
