The creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening, is reportedly being sued after allegedly failing to take action over a sexual assault which is said to have occurred in his Hollywood home.
Groening, 70, is famous for creating the long-running Springfield set animation and spearheading its futuristic counterpart, Futurama, and the fantasy comedy Disenchanted.
The star lives in Santa Monica with wife Augustina Picasso, 47, who is also said to be named in a lawsuit which blames them both for failing to prevent sexual assault, battery and other serious charges.
The case relates to a woman named Giavanna Scotto, who claims that she used to work as a house manager for Groening’s estate several years ago.
Scotto alleges that complaints made about her repeated sexual assault at the hands of a co-worker fell on deaf ears when she told Groening and Picasso.
In the lawsuit, Scotto describes how she began being sexually harassed early in her career by a male co-worker who would touch her inappropriately and kiss her on the mouth multiple times.
In legal documents obtained by TMZ, Scotto alleges that she complained to both Groening and his wife, but was disappointed when neither of them took action, saying that the pair: “failed to take appropriate corrective actions.”
Scotto speaks of how her abuser would repeatedly and aggressively grab her breasts and bottom without consent, while repeatedly and unwantedly kissing her on the mouth.
She also claims that this colleague would bombard her with messages, leading to her feeling as though she was being ‘stalked.’
Messages from the same co-worker would say things like ‘hello sweetheart,’ ‘miss you,’ ‘I miss you so much I love you I hope you are well I love you I love you,’ and ‘I love you how is our son.’
She also alleges that ‘Picasso clearly knew of the harassment and failed to act.’
According to Scotto, the family’s lack of action only emboldened her abuser, who she says continued his campaign of sexual harassment throughout her time working for Groening and Picasso.
Finally, Scotto claims that Picasso fired her in June 2022 without prior warning or apparent cause.
The lawsuit names both Groening and his wife and is suing them for failing to prevent Scotto’s sexual assault and other workplace violations.
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Metro.co.uk has approached Matt Groening’s estate for comment.
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