Copperfield says ‘no case to answer’ in sexual misconduct report
Longtime Strip headliner David Copperfield is denying a published report of sexual misconduct involving more than a dozen women, including some who were teenagers at the time of the alleged behavior.
The report, published Tuesday by The Guardian U.S., chronicles the claims of 16 women dating from the late 1980s through 2014. Copperfield’s legal team repeatedly denied the claims throughout the piece.
The story’s timeline slightly overlaps Copperfield’s current residency at the former Hollywood Theater, renamed for the superstar illusionist in 2013. He has been a recurring headliner, first at Caesars Palace and later MGM Grand, since the mid-1980s.
Half of those interviewed in The Guardian report say they were teenagers at the time of the alleged improper behavior. Some claim to have been as young as 15 at the time of the activity.
The claims include allegations that Copperfield drugged three women before having non-consensual sexual relations. Four women say they were groped, or made to touch the magician inappropriately during his on-stage performances.
An MGM Resorts International official declined comment on the report. Copperfield is on a scheduled break at his Musha Cay island retreat in the Bahamas. He is scheduled to return to his regular 15-show-per-week schedule at 7 p.m. Monday.
The magician referred questions to his PR representative, who said in an e-mail statement to the Review-Journal that the behavior is “the exact opposite” of the 67-year-old entertainer.
”In fact, David has a record of risking his career to help protect women from powerful predators. Most of these historic accusations have been made before, and all of them are as false now as they were then,” the statement reads. “David requested the ‘evidence’ upon which these false allegations claim to rely and this has not been provided.”
Copperfield’s camp says the claims have been vetted by law enforcement, turning up “no case.”
“By contrast, whenever U.S. law enforcement has looked into such matters, they have been investigated thoroughly and it has been found that there is simply no case to answer,” the rep claimed. “The Guardian’s characterization is not who David is, and he continues to support anyone who has experienced any form of abuse or discrimination.
”David will be considering the position with his legal team and will take such steps as may be appropriate over these false and scurrilous allegations.”
The Guardian story arrives five months after Copperfield’s name surfaced in court documents specifying individuals reportedly associated with disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. No wrongdoing or illegal behavior by Copperfield is alleged in those documents.
Newton’s 65th
“Mr Las Vegas” Wayne Newton was honored with a big cake and bigger plaque at his showroom at the Flamingo on Wednesday night, marking his 65th anniversary as a Las Vegas headliner.
Newton and his brother, Jerry, debuted as the Newton Brothers at the Carnival Room at Fremont Hotel on May 16, 1959.
Newton was to be honored on Caesars Entertainment marquees on Thursday night. There was also talk of him returning to the Fremont for a photo op. The old hotel-casino is where he and Jerry performed six shows a night, six nights a week.
Among Newton’s memories is having a beer bottle thrown at him for singing “Joy in My Heart,” as a guy was mad a “church” song was being performed in a casino lounge.
And, the night a gentleman in the crowd died, but had no driver’s license or ID. So he was rolled up into a carpet and taken backstage until authorities arrived.
Newton, the original Vegas “locals” act, would go on to headline Sands, Flamingo (twice, including his current residency), Frontier, Desert Inn, MGM Grand, Las Vegas Hilton, Tropicana, Bally’s and Caesars Palace. At 82, he’s booked through the end of this year.
‘Dita Las Vegas’ closing
Dita Von Teese’s mix of traditional burlesque and showgirl spectacle, “Dita Las Vegas,” is closing out at Jubilee Theater at Horseshoe Las Vegas, effective June 15. But I expect Von Teese to remain in this market, and there’s no better room for her than Voltaire at The Venetian. That’s not an announcement. But it is an opinion.
Voltaire’s Belle de Nuit production of speciality acts is down, for now, but expect dates to be added and announced in June through August. We might see BDN as a late-night production, rather than its current pre-headliner, 9 p.m. start. Jason Derulo opens his first Vegas residency at Voltaire on May 24-25.
Cool Hang Alert
“Arcade Bops,” live video-game music, is set for 7-10 p.m. Monday at Maxan Jazz. Carlos Mata, Jason Corpuz, R.J. Reyes, Matti Avery, Micheal Hoffman and Liz Bedrosian — with special guests the “Vegas! The Show” horn section, play and sing Mata’s original video-game arrangements. Have not seen this before, folks. Go to maxanjazz.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
