A massage therapist has accused Marvel Comics’ editor-in-chief Stan Lee of sexual misconduct for allegedly grabbing and harassing her during a massage appointment last year, ABC News reports.
Maria Carballo, the massage therapist, has named Lee, 95, and his former assistant Mac “Max” Anderson, who set up the massage appointments, in the lawsuit. Carballo has accused Lee of assault, battery, emotional distress and violation of the Illinois Gender Violence Act, The Huffington Post reports. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Carballo is seeking $50,000 in damages.
The lawsuit states that Carballo was hired to perform a massage at Lee’s hotel on April 27, 2017 while he was in Chicago for the annual C2E2 comic expo, HuffPost reports. Carballo said that during the massage Lee “began to fondle himself” while on the table and began moaning while she was performing the massage. She said that she immediately ended the massage appointment, according to the lawsuit.
The following day, Carballo said that her boss requested that she return to Lee’s hotel to perform another massage, ABC News reports. Despite her reluctance to do so, her boss insisted, and she agreed to out of fear of losing her job.
According to HuffPost, during the second massage Lee began to moan again, and Carballo attempted to end the session. When Lee insisted she continue, she agreed, but switched to a shiatsu massage method, which utilizes the massage therapist’s feet, in order to keep her distance, The Chicago Tribune reports. The lawsuit states that “Lee [then] grabbed [Carballo’s] foot and moved it against his penis and scrotum.” She immediately ended the session.
Carballo said that she was afraid to come forward, in fear that it would affect her job, particularly with Lee’s wealth and status.
“For a long time, I was afraid to ask anyone to help me hold Mr. Lee accountable for how he treated me. He is rich and famous. I am not. After seeing other women fight to be treated with dignity and respect, I decided, ‘Me too,’” Carballo stated. “I am still nervous and afraid, but not as much as I was before because I have other people helping me.”
According to The Chicago Tribune, Lee, through his attorney, Jonathan Freund, denied the allegations, and Freund said that Lee was shocked by the allegations.
“He is a high-profile public figure and I think it’s a shakedown,” Freund told The Chicago Tribune. “The guy is 95, I don’t think he would do that.”