Scott Baio denies ’80s harassment allegations

US actor Scott Baio has denied allegations levelled at him by two former child stars during his time on ’80s sitcom Charles in Charge.

Nicole Eggert (pictured, far right) has previously claimed that Baio (pictured, top right) continuously sexually harassed and abused her on the set, referencing a situation when they had sexual intercourse when she was a minor at the age of 17. Baio maintains that Eggert was 18 years old at the time.

This week Alexander Polinsky (pictured, far left) alleged harassment and assault between the ages of 12 to 15 years old. Polinsky accused Baio of exposing his genitals on set, pulling his pants down in front of hundreds of people, and throwing hot tea in his face. Polinsky said he was harassed and endured repeated homophobic slurs from the time he was 11 to 15 years old on the set of Charles in Charge.

On Wednesday, Eggert and attorney Lisa Bloom said that, including Polinsky, at least 10 on-set witnesses spoke to police about Eggert’s claims, including one person who witnessed Baio allegedly dragging Eggert around the set by her hair. While Eggert and Polinsky are asking for a public apology from Baio, Bloom said any criminal consequences are now under the LAPD’s jurisdiction.

In a statement read by his representatives at a press conference today, Baio said, “For reasons I don’t understand, I am the target of false claims that threaten everything that is important in my life. I am hurt and I am angry, but mostly, I am stunned that anybody can be so cruel to attack not just me, but my family.”

“Scott denies every single claim of inappropriate behavior and there is absolutely nothing when you examine the facts and the evidence and the claims that have been made — almost every one of them can be refuted with evidence,” Baio’s reps said.

“Alexander Polinsky, like Nicole Eggert, has made multiple inconsistent statements. And just like Eggert, Polinsky makes his statements in front of cameras with his lawyer Lisa Bloom, who many of you know, just defended Harvey Weinstein,” Jennifer McGrath, Baio’s lawyer, said. “We certainly would prefer not to have all of this back and forth in the media, but we feel like we’re left with no choice, because unfortunately, Ms. Eggert and Mr. Polinsky and Ms. Bloom chose to litigate this in the media on an almost daily basis.”

“Scott denies every one of those things,” Baio’s spokesman, Brian Glicklich said, adding that Baio is “devastated” by Polinsky’s accusations. “Frankly, if we go through all of the allegations that were made in their various iterations, we could be here all day.”

Baio did not attend his press conference.

Source: Variety, Hollywood Reporter.