Ansel Eglort has been accused of sexual assault and has now responded to the claim on social media.
In a now-deleted Twitter post, a user called Gabby shared her alleged experience with the actor, who you may have seen in The Fault In Our Stars or Baby Driver. In it, she claims that her relationship with Elgort began from a DM she sent him, leading to him giving her his private Snapchat username and them exchanging messages. At the time, Gabby was 17 and unfortunately, her story is similar to a lot of other young women and girls, she wrote that she felt that she wouldn’t be believed because of the difference in their power and status.
“I’m not posting this to ‘clout chase’ because I simply don’t care for that,” she wrote. “I just want to heal and I want to tell other girls who have been through the same s–t as me. You’re not alone. It’s a lot for me to even come on here and tell my story. I simply don’t want to post it all.”
“I had DMed him on when it was two days before my 17th birthday and I got his private Snapchat,” read the post. “I didn’t think he’d ever see my DM. I was just a kid and was a fan of him.”
Her post goes on to describe the alleged assault as well as including other messages apparently between underage girls and Elgort.
During the backlash on Twitter, more users came forward with screenshots and accounts of Elgort reportedly DMing them or their friends while they were underage. This has lead to claims that he has a history of ‘predatory behaviour.’ One blind item also apparently describes Elgort assaulting someone while on the set of the film The Goldfinch, though it’s unconfirmed.
In an Instagram post, Elgort confirmed that he and Gabby did have a “relationship” but he denies the allegation of sexual assault. “I was distressed to see the social media posts about me that have been circulating in the past 24 hours,” wrote the actor.
“I cannot claim to understand Gabby’s feelings but her depiction of events is simply not what happened,” he said.
“I have never and would never assault anyone. What is true is that in New York in 2014, when I was 20, Gabby and I had a brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship. Unfortunately, I did not handle the breakup well.”
Ansel admits that he “stopped responding to her, which is an immature and cruel thing to do to someone” and that “this belated apology does not absolve me of my unacceptable behavior when I disappeared.”
Many people have rushed to the defence of Elgort, which others have pointed out is incredibly hypocritical and demonstrates the very reason so many survivors of assault choose not to come forward. His note also does not discuss any of the other accounts of him DMing underage girls.
Over the weekend Riverdale actor Cole Sprouse and Justin Bieber have also been accused of sexual assault, though neither has responded officially.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
