The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have proved not only vital in exposing contemporary incidents of harassment and assault, but in shining the spotlight on those who have committed acts that have been overlooked or ignored in the past. Today, attention has turned to Michael Fassbender, and allegations of physical abuse that are now resurfacing.
The Daily Beast has taken a look at the allegations from the actor’s former girlfriend Sunawin “Leasi” Andrews, who was 36 at the time of the incidents. In March 2010, Andrew filed a restraining order against Fassbender to keep him 100 yards away from her and her 18-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. The paperwork reveals that Andrews sought $24,000 for her medical bills, and requested that Fassbender enroll in a 52-week batterer intervention program, following two incidents in 2009.
According to Andrews, on November 18, 2009, she had been dining with Fassbender, when he became enraged when they were approached by her ex-boyfriend.
“Michael was drinking and became angry,” Andrews wrote. “Michael was driving my car dangerously fast and screaming at me. I begged him to stop the car in fear of an accident or for my children who were home asleep. As we got closer to my house I put my car in stop. Got out walked around the car to pull key from ignition. Michael drove of[f] dragging me along from the car.”
“I went to the hospital and had a twisted left ankle, blown out left knee cap and a bursted ovarian cyst,” Andrews added. “Lots of internal bleeding.”
Another incident allegedly occurred at the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest in 2009, where Andrews says that when she attempted to awaken Fassbender, who had slept off a night of heavy drinking, “he began to be violent and threw me over a chair, breaking my nose.”
Reached for comment, Andrews stated, “You’ve got the paperwork. What more is there to say?”
As The Daily Beast notes, while these allegations had been somewhat reported in the past, the pieces often victim shamed Andrews, or called into question her “seedy past.” Fassbender himself has never commented publicly about the allegations, and his relationship with Andrews is not noted on his Wikipedia page as of publication.
The actor or his camp have not yet responded to these latest reports. Fassbender will next be seen in 20th Century Fox‘s “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” where he’ll reprise his role as Magneto. THR also reported today that the actor has just signed up to co-star with David Hasselhoff in “Kung Fury,” a feature length adaptation of the short film, that will be director by original helmer David Sandberg (not be confused with “Lights Out” director, David F. Sandberg).