Actress Raquel Lee Boileau Accuses Disney of Enabling On-Set Abuse

The Walt Disney Company is facing a negligence suit from actress Raquel Lee Boileau, who claims that she was repeatedly raped, sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed on the set of the 2001 movie ‘The Proof Point.’ Boileau alleges that Disney knew about the abuse and failed to take action to stop it.

According to the lawsuit, filed on August 21 in LA Superior Court, Boileau was just 14 years old when she was subjected to the abuse. The lawsuit claims that Disney facilitated and concealed the severe sexual abuse of Boileau by a male employee, identified only as ‘John Doe.’

‘Mr. Doe’s sexual abuse of Ms. Boileau was apparent to the adults on Disney’s set,’ the lawsuit states. ‘Defendant Disney repeatedly failed Ms. Boileau. Disney facilitated and concealed Mr. Doe’s severe sexual abuse of Ms. Boileau.’

Boileau claims that she was also subjected to tirades from Disney executives at the time over her performance. The lawsuit invokes the example of Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted of numerous counts of sexual assault and abuse.

‘This is not the first time that Disney has enabled a sexual predator to target and abuse vulnerable victims,’ the lawsuit claims. ‘Disney has a longstanding and horrifying history of protecting sexual abusers that began well before 2001-and continued after 2001.’

Boileau’s lawyers, Doug Wigdor and Jane Kim, stated in a statement that ‘over the last decade, countless child actors have come forward to bravely share their experiences of abuse by adults in entertainment.’ They added that ‘as former government prosecutors, our message to the entertainment industry is simple: This conduct is inexcusable, and those involved—directly or indirectly—must be held accountable.’

Disney has declined to comment on the lawsuit. The company has a history of facing allegations of enabling on-set abuse, including a 2017 lawsuit from actress Ginnifer Goodwin, who claimed that she was subjected to abuse by a male co-star on the set of the 2008 film ‘Walk the Line.’

Boileau’s lawsuit comes at a time when the entertainment industry is facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of on-set abuse. The #MeToo movement has led to a wave of allegations against powerful men in the industry, including producers, directors, and actors.

Boileau’s lawyers have stated that the actress is seeking a ‘money judgement’ in the case, but the exact amount is not specified. The lawsuit also claims that Disney failed to use reasonable care in investigating the circumstances on set and did nothing to reasonably investigate, supervise or monitor and/or terminate Mr. Doe to ensure the safety of child actors.

Boileau has worked with Disney on several occasions since the abuse occurred, including a voiceover role on the Disney+ series ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.’ However, the lawsuit claims that Disney’s failure to address the abuse has caused ‘irreparable and devastating harm’ to Boileau and other child actors.

The lawsuit also highlights the changes in California law that have made it easier for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims. In 2020, California passed a law that removed the statute of limitations for civil claims of childhood sexual assault survivors. In 2023, the law was amended to remove any statute of limitations for civil claims of childhood sexual assault survivors that occurred on or after January 1, 2024.

Under the current law, a plaintiff can claim triple actual damages if it is proven that a company (like Disney) was aware of the assaults and abuse and chose to conceal what was happening.

Boileau’s lawsuit is a stark reminder of the need for the entertainment industry to take action to prevent on-set abuse and support survivors. As the industry continues to grapple with the consequences of its actions, it is clear that there is still much work to be done to ensure that the safety and well-being of child actors are protected.