Moshe Ivgy
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Actor, director Moshe Ivgy charged with sexual harassment
Ivgy faces litany of complaints, from inappropriate and unwanted touching to derogatory and degrading sexist remarks; 'An open door may tempt a saint,' he allegedly said as he put his hand under a co-worker's blouse.
Renowned Israeli actor and director Moshe Ivgy was charged Thursday with several counts of indecent acts and sexual harassment against four women with whom he worked.
The indictment filed against the actor describes, inter alia, how in 2012 Ivgy molested a female co-worker, henceforth named A., on the set of a film by shoving his hand up her shirt and stroking her back without her consent.
Moshe Ivgy (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
"Wow, what are you doing?" A. asked Ivgy, to which he allegedly responded: "An open door may tempt a saint," a famous Jewish proverb referring to theft.
According to the indictment, during a break from shooting on another day on the set, Ivgy clung to A., hugged her tight and refused to let go. He then whispered in her ear that wanted to "f*** her."
Another plaintiff, henceforth named B., claims that while working together on a film in 2013, Ivgy reached into her shirt, under her bra, and cupped her breast. She slapped him and stormed out.
According to the indictment, the following day, B. and her husband arrived to the set, where Ivgy hurled "derogatory and degrading" sexist remarks at B. concerning her purported overt sexuality.
The indictment further charges that in 2013, while working on a movie with a woman henceforth referred to as C., Ivgy took her hand and asked where she lived and whether she lived alone. He told her several times that he would come to visit her. and C. said in response that he was married, while she was his daughter's age.
But as C. stood in front of him, holding his hand, Ivgy pulled her toward him, thrusting his face into her chest.
(Photo: Motti Livton)
Finally, the indictment refers to the testimony of the fourth plaintiff, henceforth referred to as D., and charges Ivgy again with verbal harassment for an incident that also took place in 2013.
D., who had no prior acquaintance with Ivgy, met him at a falafel shop, where he sat next to her as she sat at the table outside the shop.
There, Ivgy asked her if "she f***s," and continued to ask her about her partner at time, and whether he "let her suck his d***," and if he "put his d*** in her p****."
Seeking to end the conversation with him, D., distraught, left the shop.
Ivgy's trial will be held behind closed doors, in order to preserve the confidentiality of the plaintiffs.
