Molly Shannon accused late Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman of sexual harassment.
"I think he was like, 'Sit down [on the bed].' It was very sweet," Shannon said on The Howard Stern Show while recalling meeting Coleman after signing with his agent. "And then he's, like, tickling me a little. This and that."
After telling Coleman she was a virgin at the time, she said he became agitated. "He was relentless," Shannon explained. "Then, he was like trying to kiss me and get on top and I was like, 'No, Gary. Stop.' So, I push him off. Then, I would get off the bed. Then, he would bounce on the bed. Jump, jump, jump. And wrap himself around me. Then, I would fling him off. And then he got on top of me. I guess because of his size I didn't feel physically threatened. But ... it was going on and on. Repeating. I would throw him off, he would get back on."
"And then finally, I throw him off. I was really getting out of breath because it was athletic and aerobic," she added. "He grabs me onto my leg and I was like [trying to] kick him off. And then, I go lock myself in the bathroom and then he sticks his hands under the door. And he's like, 'I can see you.'" Shannon concluded by noting she ran out of the room and implored Coleman's agent to keep a close eye on him.
Coleman is best known for his prominent work as a child actor during the 1970s and '80s, with his biggest claim to fame being Arnold Jackson, the adoptive Black son of the wealthy, white Mr. Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes from 1978-1986. He also appeared on Good TImes, The Facts of Life, The Jeffersons, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Simpsons, The Drew Carey Show and more. He died in 2010 at the age of 42 after suffering a sever head injury.
If you are a U.S.-based victim of sexual assault or misconduct in need of help, contact RAINN at 800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. If you are based outside the U.S., click here for a list of international sexual assault resources.
Source: YouTube, via People
