Actor Ansel Elgort has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman known only as "Gabby", who claims that she was just under 17 years old at the time. On Saturday, Elgort issued a statement on Instagram, denying the woman's version of events.
Gabby posted a story to Twitter on Friday, describing a chain of events in 2014 in which she contacted Elgort online and he responded with a request for nude photos. According to Gabby, this led to meeting in person and to the alleged assault.
Her story included an apparent photo of herself and Elgort sitting together, as well as what she claimed was a screenshot of the exchange that they shared online. She emphasized her youth and the effect that the alleged encounter had on her, saying, “Years later I have PTSD, I have panic attacks I go to therapy."
In his response on Instagram, Elgort claimed that his relationship with Gabby was "brief, legal and entirely consensual." He also said that he had handled the breakup with her poorly, and that he was ashamed of this and should continue to "reflect, learn, and work to grow in empathy."
Elgort is known for playing Caleb in Divergent and its two sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant, and for his starring roles in Baby Driver and The Fault in Our Stars. He also auditioned for the part of Han Solo in Solo: a Star Wars Story. Most recently, he starred in The Goldfinch and in Steven Spielberg's upcoming West Side Story, currently in post-production. He has also been filming as the lead for HBO Max's Tokyo Vice.
(via Deadline)
If you are a U.S.-based victim of sexual assault or misconduct in need of help, contact RAINN at 800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. If you are based outside the U.S., click here for a list of international sexual assault resources