Joy and American Hustle director David O. Russell ‘groped his transgender teenage niece’

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 31: Director David O. Russell attends the Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 31, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

David O. Russell, the Oscar-nominated director of Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, has been accused of groping his transgender niece.

The allegations against Russell have come to light after two weeks in which accusations against Harvey Weinstein and other Hollywood figures have flooded in.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 28:  Actress Jennifer Lawrence (L) and director David O. Russell attend the 88th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Cara Delevingne revealed her horrific-sounding experience of working with Weinstein, saying she had a “very odd and uncomfortable call” with the movie mogul when she started out as an actress.

Delevingne claimed that Weinstein said she would have no future in Hollywood if she was open about her sexuality and relationships with other women.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02:  Actor Bradley Cooper and director David O. Russell attend the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City.  (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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Terry Crews, James Van der Beek and Michael Gaston have also spoken up about abuse they endured.

Russell, whose hit films include The Fighter and Joy, has also been accused of sexual assault.


In 2011, his 19-year-old transgender niece Nicole Peloquin – who is not a blood relative – filed a police report alleging that Russell had groped her.

According to police reports, the five-time Oscar-nominated director discussed hormones with his niece at a Florida gym, then “put his hands under [her] top and felt both breasts.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 28:  Director David O. Russell (L) and actress Jennifer Lawrence attend the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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He also allegedly offered to help Peloquin with abdominal exercises while his hand “hovered above” her “private parts,” according to The Daily Beast.

What’s more, Russell confirmed the incident happened.

He tried to justify his actions to police, saying his niece was “acting very provocative toward him,” and adding that he was “curious about the breast enhancement.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Jamie Foxx, Tyrese Gibson and David O. Russell attend Haute Living along with Dr. Gabriel Chiu & Christine Chiu Host Pre-Oscars Dinner for David O. Russell with Perrier-Jouet at Mastro's Steakhouse on February 23, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Haute Living)

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The director, who has worked with stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams, reportedly told police that his niece “is always causing drama since the transgender transformation and has become very provocative and seductive.”

The case was ultimately dropped, with no charges filed.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07:  (L-R) Actor Joel Edgerton, writer/director David O. Russell, and actor Jeremy Renner attend the 6th Annual Sean Penn & Friends HAITI RISING Gala Benefiting J/P Haitian Relief Organizationat Montage Hotel on January 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for J/P Haitian Relief Organization )

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It was referenced in an email unearthed during the Sony hack in 2014.

Columbia Pictures executive Michael De Luca, whose studio worked with Russell on 2013 film American Hustle, wrote about the incident.

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15:  Director David O. Russell attends Prada Presents 'Past Forward' by David O. Russell premiere at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel on November 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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“David’s a loon, talented, but geez once I saw him bring Sally Field to a party and reduce her to tears,” he said.

“Plus remember when he got in trouble for feeling up his transgender nieces [sic] boobs?”

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