The lawyer for Özge Ş., a costume assistant for a TV series broadcast by Turkish affiliate of Fox, said series' star Talat Bulut was summoned to testify on charges of sexual harassment of the 19-year-old woman.
Özge Ş. has claimed that the 62-year-old actor forcibly kissed her on the set of Yasak Elma (Forbidden Apple), an accusation refuted by Bulut. Her lawyer Sibel Önder told reporters yesterday that Bulut was summoned to testify by a judiciary official.
The incident sparked outrage especially after Bulut's controversial remarks in response to the accusations. The actor said it wouldn't "look good for her when the person she would marry would Google her name." The incident on May 31 failed to stir up a campaign similar to Hollywood's MeToo movement that revealed endemic abuse of actresses but Hande Ataizi, an actress who worked with Bulut in a film two decades ago came forward, saying Bulut sexually harassed her too. "Women are braver now. I congratulate this girl," she said referring to Özge Ş.
The victim's lawyer said Talat Bulut openly committed an act of abuse by taking her client to "a back room for that purpose" when Özge Ş. tried to tidy Bulut's tie for an upcoming shooting session. "She is not looking for popularity. She stands up [against abuse] instead of remaining silent. Her action can change the fate of many other women," Önder said.
