Tuesday, April 15, 2008

EMPLOYEES DEFEND ACTOR ROB LOWE

Rob Lowe

Hollywood star Rob Lowe's employees are coming forward to defend the actor after an ex-nanny accused him of sexual harassment.Jessica Gibson filed a lawsuit in California yesterday alleging Lowe placed his hand inside her "pants in order to touch her crotch" and "grabbed Gibson’s buttocks without consent" several times between September 2005 to January 2008. Gibson also alleges Lowe repeatedly exposed his penis to her, as well as frequently asking her "to touch his penis." But now Lowe’s estate manager, Carol Andrade, has led a charge to defend the actor, who faces a deposition with his accuser next month. In a written declaration provided to Lowe’s legal team, and obtained by People.com, Andrade states Gibson never told her that Lowe "ever said or did anything that she found inappropriate or offensive or that made her feel uncomfortable… or made sexual advances toward her." Andrade has revealed she has supervised the nannies, chefs, drivers and housekeepers for Lowe, 44, and his wife, Sheryl, 46, for the last 18 months.
She is one of a group of current and former staff members who provided declarations to Lowe’s legal team. In another declaration, Jennifer Dynof, one of the actor’s business associates, stated she’d never witnessed any questionable behaviour by her boss. She writes, "I have never seen him make any sexual advances toward any other woman or act inappropriately, offensively or disrespectfully toward any woman."
Photo By: Steve Buckley/BuzzFoto