Vincent Cirrincione, the manager who helped launch the careers of Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson, is the latest Hollywood gatekeeper to be accused of sexual harassment by multiple women.
In a report from The Washington Post published on Friday, nine women said Cirrincione repeatedly offered representation and career guidance in exchange for sex. The accusers, eight African-American and one Asian-American, said Cirrincione leveraged his experience with two of the most successful black actresses in the industry to manipulate them into sexual encounters.
The accusations of inappropriate behavior from Cirrincione date from 1993 to 2011, including offers of quid pro quo and one actress who said he repeatedly masturbated in front of her during the years he managed her.
One of the named women in the story, Tamika Lamison, said Cirrincione brought her to his hotel suite in 1996, when she was 27 years old. After having her listen in on a conversation with Berry, he grabbed her and kissed her. Lamison said Cirrincione told her explicitly that he would agree to take her on as a client on the condition that she agree to have sex with him anytime he desired.
In a statement to the Post, Cirrincione admitted to sexual relationships but denied ever promising representation in return.
“I have had affairs while in committed relationships, ones I am now ashamed to say are coming to light and shading my past and my reputation,” he said. “I can say without a doubt that I have never used favors, sexual or otherwise, as a reason for managing anyone. I want to make it clear that not one of those relationships were anything but consensual.
“I take responsibility for my part in the situation and I am not here to diminish anyone’s feelings or experiences. I apologize to these women, my past and present partner, my clients and employees for the pain this is bringing them. I was under the impression I was living my life as a supportive man to women. It is with a heavy heart that I see now I was wrong.”
Berry, whose success the women said Cirrincione repeatedly used to prove his bona fides as a manager, told the Post that she first learned of the behavior via a woman speaking about a “casting couch” encounter with Cirrincione on the radio.
“Over three years ago, a woman was on the radio saying that Halle Berry’s manager was her worst casting couch experience ever,” the Oscar-winning actress said. “That news literally stopped me in my tracks. I immediately confronted Vince about it, and he denied it completely. But even with his denial, something didn’t feel right in my spirit, and with the possibility that it could be true, I immediately ended our over-25-year relationship.”
Cirrincione denied that he ever had such a conversation with Berry.
Henson is sill repped by Cirrincione, and the actress told the Post that she had no knowledge of any misbehavior on his part. Henson said she viewed him as a “father figure” who helped guide and support her in the early years of her, including financially, without expectation of anything in return.
“He saw a single mother trying to make her dreams come true, and he nurtured that,” she said. “He wrote checks and wouldn’t ask for anything in return. It wasn’t coming from a creepy place. If anything, it empowered me. Like this man believes in me. I love him for that.”