LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — AT&T-owned WarnerMedia has re-opened an investigation in allegations that Kevin Tsujihara, chairman of Warner Bros. film and television studios, engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an aspiring actress.
According to a report in the Hollywood Reporter, a collection of leaked text messages suggests that Tsujihara and actress Charlotte Kirk had what she described in text messages as a sexual encounter.
According to THR, the text messages showed that the relationship led to a campaign involving producers James Packer and Brett Ratner working to get Kirk roles in Warner Bros. movies. Kirk has had minor roles in several Warner Bros. projects, including How to Be Single (2016) and 2018’s Ocean’s 8 (2018).
The alleged relationship began in 2013, when Packer introduced Kirk, who was then 21, to Tsujihara. Tsujihara then began to arrange meetings between Kirk and studio execs and Kirk appeared to pressure Tsujihara at times, the THR reported.
“You’re very busy I know but when we were in that motel having sex u said u would help me and when u just ignore me like you’re doing now it makes me feel used,” Kirk reportedly told Tsujihara in one of the leaked text messages. “Are u going to help me like u said u would?”
According to THR, Kirk denied that Tsujihara engaged in any inappropriate behavior. Warner Bros. parent company, WarnerMedia said it had previously looked into the allegations, but would review the matter again.
Allegations of a relationship between Kirk and Tsujihara first arose in September when Warner execs received an anonymous email which described an anonymous actress with the initials C.K. who was alleged to have received work in Warner Bros. projects in exchange for silence about a sexual relationship.
At the time, an attorney for Kirk denied that she had any relationship with Tsujihara. In a statement on Wednesday to the THR through in attorney, Kirk said:
“I further confirm that when the relationship ended I sought the advice of Mr. Tsujihara whom I had been introduced to by Mr. Packer. Mr. Tsujihara never promised me anything. I also confirm that Brett Ratner helped me out of friendship to assist me in getting auditions and trying to help me find an agent, and I have no issues with him or claims against him. I deny that there was any legal settlement or agreement entered into between myself and Brett Ratner in 2016.”
An attorney for Tsujihara told THR: “Mr. Tsujihara had no direct role in the hiring of this actress.”
