An extensive investigation conducted by The Guardian unearthed a slew of allegations implicating renowned magician David Seth Kotkin, commonly recognized as David Copperfield, in cases of sexual impropriety. It’s not the first instance; the Emmy-recognized Las Vegas sensation has faced multiple accusations of sexual mistreatment concerning women in the past.
It was gleaned by The Guardian that numerous women felt empowered speaking up about these transgressions, largely attributed to the #MeToo movement. A significant number of them revealed they met Copperfield during his tenure as an entertainer. More than half of these allegations arise from women who have stated that they were underage when the alleged transgressions occurred.
Several women assert that Copperfield used drugs to incapacitate them before engaging in sexual activities. Prominent amongst these is Brittney Lewis who, in 2018, accused Copperfield of sexually assaulting her back in 1988 while she was a 17-year-old model. An alike allegation was made by a woman identified as “Gillian,” who alleged to The Guardian that both she and her friend were victims of a similar assault.
The accusations aren’t just from those alleging to have been sexually involved with Copperfield. Four other individuals reproach Copperfield of inappropriately touching them during live performances. It’s further alleged by the family members of one of the victims that they witnessed Copperfield molesting her.
Fallon Thornton, a purported victim of one such inappropriate grope by Copperfield, informed The Guardian that her case didn’t receive due attention. According to the records accessed from the Las Vegas police department, the video footage secured from MGM, where Copperfield was performing at the time, yielded no evidence supporting her allegation. The Guardian couldn’t verify independently the authenticity of the footage.
Another victim, identified as “Carla,” alleges that Copperfield had “groomed” her. When she was 15 years old in 1991, he began showering her with gifts and frequent late-night calls. According to Carla, they engaged in consensual sex when she turned 18.
Copperfield’s name has also resurfaced in the documentation associated with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Entertainer and His Attorneys Brush Aside Allegations
Copperfield, along with his legal representation, proclaims innocence against all allegations. Attorneys of the Vegas illusionist asserted that there exist no complaints lodged at the venues he was performing at the time, and further highlighted that the involvement of drugs is alien to his lifestyle.
Furthermore, his legal team channeled dismissal of the groping accusations as unfounded and hinted at Copperfield’s obliviousness to the scandal linking Epstein to child trafficking.
Just like the rest of the world, our client learned about Epstein’s heinous crimes through press coverage.
Representatives of Copperfield
Copperfield’s relationship with Carla was confirmed by the lawyers, though they emphasized their consensual relationship that lasted four years. They dismissed any allegations implying ‘grooming’.
In a recent development, Copperfield had to reschedule his show slated to take place in February 2024 after Save the Children disassociated themselves from the magician. Copperfield reacted strongly against these “unjustified assaults” on his character and reassured his fans that the show would still go on after some necessary adjustments have been made.
