Bryan Singer ‘sexually molested underage boys’, according to new claims
Singer continues to deny the allegations against him
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Several men have accused director Bryan Singer of sexual abuse, and detailed their alleged experiences in a brand new exposé.
Fresh off of a Best Picture Oscar nomination for Queen musical Bohemian Rhapsody – which Singer directed until he was fired less than three weeks before filming was completed – The Atlantic has released a comprehensive article in which alleged victims claim they were either raped or seduced by Singer while they were underage.
One such accuser, Victor Valdovinos, alleges that he was molested by Singer on the set of the film Apt Pupil when he was just 13.
Valdovinos claims that, after being told to strip and wear nothing but a towel, Singer reached through it, “grabbed [his] genitals and started masturbating it” and “rubbed his front part” on him.
Another accuser, Andy (not his real name), alleges that he had underage sex with Singer when the director was in his thirties, and Andy was 15. He claims that the lead star of Apt Pupil, Brad Renfro – also 15 at the time – was also present. According to the report, Singer “knew they were under the age of consent”. Renfro died of a drug overdose in 2008 at the age of 25.
Another accuser, named in the article as Ben, called Singer “predatory” and claimed he “would stick his hands down your pants without your consent”.
“He would ply people with alcohol and drugs and then have sex with them,” he claimed.
Singer denies all allegations against him.
In October, he posted a message to Instagram that read: “I have known for some time that [there may be] a negative article about me. They have contacted my friends, colleagues and people I don’t even know.
“In today’s climate where people’s careers are being harmed by mere accusations, what [these reporters are] attempting to do is a reckless disregard for the truth, making assumptions that are fictional and irresponsible.”
Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek has addressed the allegations, saying he “was not aware” of them.
The Independent has reached out to Singer’s representative for additional comment.
Singer responded to the accusations in a comment to Deadline, calling the exposé a “piece of vendetta journalism” and adding: “Again, I am forced to reiterate that this story rehashes claims from bogus lawsuits filed by a disreputable cast of individuals willing to lie for money or attention.”
Maximillian Potter and Alex French, the reporters who penned the Atlantic piece, said in a statement published on Twitter that their work went through a “rigorous fact-check and robust legal vetting” prior to publication.