A former beauty queen has sued International Creative Management, claiming the firm and one of its top talent agents subjected her to unwanted sexual advances.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Claire Robinson alleges ICM and agent Jack Gilardi exploited the former Miss British Columbia and that she was sent to auditions for roles that didn’t exist or weren’t available to her. She alleges that one of Gilardi’s friends, John Rockwell, introduced her to the agent and in 2008 threatened and raped her.
The talent agency denies Robinson’s allegations. A phone message left Tuesday for Rockwell, who isn’t affiliated with ICM, wasn’t returned.
“ICM denies any and all wrongdoing,” said Michelle Suess, an agency spokeswoman. “Ms. Robinson’s allegations are completely baseless and ICM will vigorously defend this action.”
The class-action lawsuit also seeks to end a practice it calls “hip pocketing,” in which an agent sends young, aspiring actresses on fake auditions that quickly turn to sexual harassment.
Robinson’s suit also claims that Gilardi inappropriately touched her while en route in an ICM limousine to a stuntmen awards show in 2007.
The lawsuit seeks millions in damages and a judge’s order to end “hip pocketing” at ICM, which the suit claims has been going on for years. Read More ->