Former Disney child star sues studio over alleged abuse

Raquel Lee, a former child actress, has filed a civil lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, accusing the corporation of negligence following alleged sexual abuse during the filming of 'The Poof Point' in 2001. The lawsuit comes in the wake of increased scrutiny on the treatment of child actors in Hollywood, amplified by recent documentaries.

According to the legal documents, Lee, who was 14 at the time, claims she was repeatedly assaulted by a middle-aged male employee of the company. The alleged abuse occurred in a production hotel and during a flight to Los Angeles. The lawsuit states that the employee's inappropriate behavior was evident on set, with explicit comments made in front of crew members, yet no intervention from Disney personnel occurred.

Further allegations detail that Lee was separated from her legal guardian on the flight, with the accused employee seated in first class while Lee was placed elsewhere. The lawsuit claims the employee sexually assaulted her during this flight. Disney executives reportedly responded to the incidents by accusing Lee of being "out of control" and canceling a future project, rather than investigating the alleged abuse.

Lee's attorneys assert that the company concealed the employee's conduct and fostered an unsafe environment. The lawsuit also implicates director Neal Israel, suggesting Lee was encouraged by Disney and Israel to "bond, get close, and trust" the accused employee, who allegedly provided alcohol to Lee as part of a grooming process. The suit details that Lee was taken to his room "intoxicated and not well" before the alleged assault. The legal action was facilitated by a 2020 California law that extended the statute of limitations for childhood abuse claims.