Actor Penn Badgley says that he “believes women” in light of allegations of sexual harassment made against his You co-star, the comedian Chris D’Elia.
Badgley told The Los Angeles Times that he was “very troubled” by the accusations against D’Elia, who appeared in the second series of the Netflix series as a comedian who drugs and assaults young women.
“The idea that a show like ours would indirectly, unwittingly be a haven for people who are abusive is disturbing. It’s very disturbing,” Badgley said.
“You know – it did affect me deeply. I was very troubled by it. I am very troubled by it. I don’t know Chris. I know that, if there’s anything we need to do in this age, it’s to believe women.”
He continued: “But what is really important is to recognise that the policies that underwrite every given system – the practices, the regulations, the laws that underwrite every one of these systems which act as a haven for the individuals that take advantage, namely white men.”
The actor also revealed that You’s producers had reached out to the teenage actors who had starred opposite D’Elia on the show “just to make sure [they] felt safe”.
Last week 40-year-old D’Elia was accused of inappropriate conduct, including with underage girls.
He denied the allegations in a statement to TMZ, saying: “I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point.”
D’Elia added: “All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me.”
