Vincent Cirrincione, a noted Hollywood manager who helped jump-start the careers of actresses Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson, is being accused of sexually harassing nine women.
The accusations alleged inappropriate behavior spanning from 1993 to 2011 — although none of the women have made criminal allegations against him. They each allege he forcefully kissed them or promised career advancements for sexual relationships.
via NYDN:
Tamika Lamison, claims that Cirrincione made unwanted advances toward her after they met the previous night in New York City at a Tony Awards dinner.
She was a 27-year-old actress living in New York in 1996 when she was invited to his hotel suite. The manager put his client Halle Berry on speakerphone, which left Lamison in awe.
It made her believe that he could help an African-American actress such as herself land a leading role.
She began reading a poem she had written after the call with Berry ended when Cirrincione grabbed her, started kissing her and stuck his tongue in her mouth, she recalled to The Post.
Eight other African-American women and one Asian American woman came forward to The Post with accusations of unwanted and sexual advances and harassment.
Three women said he asked for sex in return for representing them and then did not take them on as clients when they refused.
Another woman said he asked her to have sex with him monthly with the promise of advancing her career and a fifth women claimed Cirrincione masturbated in front of her in his office while serving as her manager.
Many of the women said they viewed Cirrincione as a “gatekeeper” for black actresses in the industry.
In a statement, the manager said he accepted responsibility for pursuing sexual relationships but denied ever offering career advancement or representation in return for sexual favors.
“I have had affairs while in committed relationships, ones I am now ashamed to say are coming to light and shading my past and my reputation. I can say without a doubt that I have never used favors, sexual or otherwise, as a reason for managing anyone. I want to make it clear that not one of those relationships were anything but consensual,” his statement read.
“I take responsibility for my part in the situation and I am not here to diminish anyone’s feelings or experiences. I apologize to these women, my past and present partner, my clients and employees for the pain this is bringing them. I was under the impression I was living my life as a supportive man to women. It is with a heavy heart that I see now I was wrong.”
Berry, who worked with Cirrincione for 25 years, said she ended their professional relationship more than three years ago after hearing a woman on the radio say she had her worst casting couch experience with her manager.
“That news literally stopped me in my tracks. I immediately confronted Vince about it, and he denied it completely. But even with his denial, something didn’t feel right in my spirit, and with the possibility that it could be true, I immediately ended our over-25-year relationship,” she said in a statement to The Washington Post.
She also said that “Vince,” as she called him, never made an inappropriate gesture toward her and she never heard of his behavior, but she has a “no-tolerance policy.”
Halle took to Instagram to issue a statement in the wake of these new allegations against Vince.
