Sarah Scott accuses actor Kip Pardue of sexually assaulting her during and after filming sex scene

Actor who has appeared in shows including 'True Blood' says she was disappointed in the response from her union after she reported the alleged assault

Sarah Scott at OK! Magazine's pre-Grammy party, LA, 2016 (Rex)

Sarah Scott has accused fellow actor Kip Pardue of masturbating in front of her after filming a sex scene, and accused SAG-AFTRA [Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists] of failing to respond quickly to her claims.

Scott, who has appeared in TV shows including True Blood and Castle, alleges that the incident involving Pardue happened on 16 May when they filmed a post-coital scene together for a pilot series called Mogulettes.

She claims Pardue became aroused while they were under a bedsheet waiting for the scene to begin. He allegedly put her hand on his groin, then after they filmed the scene, he called her into his dressing room and masturbated in front of her.

"I literally froze. I said, 'What are you doing?'" the 35-year-old told the Los Angeles Times. She claims he told her: "This isn't a #MeToo thing. I'm not your employer. It's not like I can fire you."

Scott says she later asked Pardue, 43, why he did what she alleges him to have done. He reportedly told her she was "just so hot".

Pardue told the Times via a representative that he apologised to Scott for putting her hand on his groin, but did not confirm whether her allegations about the dressing room incident were true.

"I clearly misread the situation during a sex scene on set and have apologised to Sarah," he said in a statement. "I never intended to offend her in any way and deeply regret my actions and have learned from my behaviour."

In February, SAG-AFTRA proudly announced it had adopted a sweeping Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment that would set forth "clear expectations that SAG-AFTRA members will refrain from engaging in harassing conduct."

Scott said she reported the incident to the union in May, just days after the alleged assault. However, she claims that while officials were sympathetic, no one seemed to be in a hurry to address or resolve the situation.

"Speaking out about this has been extraordinarily difficult for me, and now I understand why so many don't," she said. "I was sexually violated while at work, and even though I had the courage to tell anyone and everyone who'd listen, as time went on, it seemed like I had very little control in truly preventing this from happening to anyone else."

Pardue's attorney said his client would "welcome a SAG hearing or any other fair process" to resolve the matter.