Bryan Singer has preemptively criticised the magazine Esquire for potentially running a negative article about him.
The article has yet to appear online but is expected to touch upon the sexual assault allegations the director denied last year.
On Instagram, Singer wrote: “I have known for some time that Esquire magazine may publish a negative article about me. They have contacted my friends, colleagues, and people I don’t even know.
“In today’s climate where people’s careers are being harmed by mere accusations, what Esquire is attempting to do is a reckless disregard for the truth, making assumptions that are fictional and irresponsible.”
Singer was accused of sexually assaulting Cesar Sanchez-Guzman on a yacht in 2003. Sanchez-Guzman was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
“This article will attempt to rehash false accusations and bogus lawsuits,” Singer continued on Instagram.
“This article will misuse quotes from ‘sources’ that will claim to have ‘intimate’ knowledge of my personal life. It will also attempt to establish guilt by association simply because of people I’ve either known or met in the past. They will be attempting to tarnish a career I’ve spent 25 years to build.”
Singer says the article was going to be published in conjunction with the release of Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He was replaced as director midway through filming by Dexter Fletcher, although due to the Director’s Guild of America’s guidelines he will retain the directors credit.
Esquire has been contacted for comment by The Independent.
