Sphere CEO James Dolan Allegedly Sexually Assaulted, Trafficked Masseuse

Posted on: January 17, 2024, 06:40h. 

Last updated on: January 18, 2024, 11:52h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The CEO of Sphere Entertainment, which operates the Sphere in Las Vegas, was accused Tuesday of the sex trafficking and repeated sex assault of a young woman who worked as a masseuse.

On Tuesday, the victim, Kellye Croft, filed a sensational lawsuit in California federal court. It claims Sphere CEO James Dolan and the embattled former film producer, Harvey Weinstein, were involved in the sex-capades.

Croft, a licensed massage therapist who worked for the Eagles rock band, gave Dolan a massage when the two were on a concert tour in 2013. At the time, Dolan was a member of the band JD & The Straight Shot, which opened for the Eagles.

The massage wasn’t particularly troublesome until Croft tried to end it, the lawsuit claims. Dolan treated Croft’s “resistance as part of a challenge or a game,” according to the suit. Dolan then “grabbed Ms. Croft’s hands, dragging her to a couch in the same room and forcing her hands between his knees as he sat down … Dolan was extremely assertive, and pressured Ms. Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse with him.”

Later on the concert tour, Croft often was called to Dolan’s room, according to the lawsuit.

“On each of these occasions, Dolan made unwelcome advances toward Ms. Croft, and she felt obligated to submit to sex with him,” the suit said.

In 2014, Croft again joined the tour in Los Angeles, at which time, Dolan allegedly trafficked her.

Afterward, Weinstein followed Croft to her room and sexually assaulted her, the suit claims.

Following the alleged attack, Croft went to Dolan, who neither “seemed surprised nor offered to help her report the assault to police,” the AP reported. Dolan, who served on the board of Weinstein’s film production company for about a year between 2015 and 2016, “completely dismissed the gravity of the situation and did not truly care about what his friend had done to her,” the AP added.

Suffered Trauma

Attorney Douglas H. Wigdor is one of the lawyers representing Croft. In a statement provided by his office, Croft said,

“I have suffered so profoundly because of what James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein did to me years ago, and it was not an easy decision to come forward and seek justice.  But for me, to truly address my trauma, I need to seek accountability.”

James Dolan manipulated me, brought me to California to abuse me, and then set me up for a vicious attack by Weinstein. My hope is that my lawsuit will force Dolan to acknowledge what he did to me and to take responsibility for the harm he has caused.”

Croft is seeking monetary damages in a jury trial.

Claims Without Merit

In a statement given to Casino.org on Wednesday, Dolan’s attorney, E. Danya Perry, said, “There is absolutely no merit to any of the allegations against Mr. Dolan.”

Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship. The references to Harvey Weinstein are simply meant to inflame and appear to be plagiarized from prior cases against Mr. Weinstein. These claims reflect an act of retaliation by an attorney who has brought multiple cases against Mr. Dolan and has not won, and cannot win, a judgment against him. Mr. Dolan always believed Ms. Croft to be a good person and is surprised she would agree to these claims. Bottom line, this is not a he said/she said matter and there is compelling evidence to back up our position.”

Jennifer Bonjean, an attorney representing Weinstein, who is in prison, said he “vehemently denies these meritless allegations,” CNN reported.

Dolan is also the chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports, the group that manages the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.