The Hercules depicter claimed that the late fashion mogul had 'his hand goes up my leg' when the latter tried to cast him in a commercial for his brand in 1984.
- Oct 26, 2017
AceShowbiz - Kevin Sorbo claimed that he was among sexual harassment victims in Hollywood. The "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" alum alleged that he was sexually harassed by the late Gianni Versace in early 1990s.
The actor, who is known for his role as Hercules on the show, revealed his experience on The Adam Carolla Show podcast on Tuesday, October 24, while discussing Harvey Weinsten, who is accused of sexual harassment and assault. Sorbo told Carolla, "I've got my sexual harassment story."
Sorbo, who appeared on the podcast to promote faith-based film "Let There Be Light", said that Versace approached him in Italy, where he was modeling at the time. It was allegedly in 1984, prior to his gig on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" which ran for six seasons in the late 1990s. "He wanted to meet me because of my height. At 6-foot, 3-inches, he wanted me to do fashion shows with these 6-foot tall women," he explained.
Sorbo went on saying that the founder of Versace, who was shot to death in his Miami home in 1997, invited him to multiple dinner parties, which were attended by the likes of Sophia Loren, Richard Gere and Luciano Pavarotti. Sorbo later noted that as the invitation continued, the guest list shrank to the point that it was only him and the fashion mogul.
Sorbo added that Versace tried to cast him for a modeling gig to promote his brand, before groping the actor. "All of a sudden, his hand goes up my leg," Sorbo recalled, before he asked Versace, "Dude, you know I'm straight?"
The actor went on with his story, saying that Versace responded with, "This is why I like you. You're not a girly man. You are a man's man...In life, you must f**k everything. You must do the dog, and the cat, and the boy and the girl." When Sorbo told the designer that he didn't follow that kind of lifestyle, Versace said that he could "build a bridge" between them.
"The bridge was never built, and I never got the campaign," said Sorbo, who remained friends with Versace. "I got four free dinners."
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor added, "He booked me for his fashion shows but I never got his campaign, but I knew the game, just like I know the game of Hollywood. Casting couches have always been around. I don't play that game, nor do I care to."
