Former Disney Channel actress Raquel Lee Bolleau has filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, alleging she was sexually abused by an adult employee at the age of 14 while filming the 2001 movie "The Poof Point." The lawsuit also claims the company failed to protect her, ignored warning signs, and violated child labor protections.
According to the complaint, Bolleau alleges that personnel encouraged her to "bond" with the adult employee, who then supplied her with alcohol and repeatedly sexually assaulted her during filming. Bolleau claims that after the alleged assault, she returned to set intoxicated and vomiting, but Disney personnel did not investigate how she obtained alcohol or seek medical attention. Instead, an executive reportedly described her as "out of control" and said the production was "haywire."
Allegations of Supervision Failures
The lawsuit further alleges that Disney repeatedly separated Bolleau from her guardian, despite California law requiring a guardian to remain within sight or sound of a performer under 16. Bolleau's guardian was allegedly prevented from supervising her during filming and in wardrobe and makeup sessions, leaving the young actress without adequate adult supervision and granting the alleged abuser unrestricted access.
Bolleau also claims the employee sexually harassed and touched her in front of others on set, including unsolicited hugs and genital rubbing. She alleges that sound technicians could have overheard some of these interactions, but no one intervened.
"Instead of protecting and supporting its minor employee who was being repeatedly raped, sexually assaulted, sexually abused, and harassed, Disney covered up Mr. Doe’s abuse, and blamed Ms. Bolleau for the impact of Mr. Doe’s horrific misconduct," Bolleau's lawyers stated. "Disney’s egregious role in Mr. Doe’s abuse of Ms. Bolleau is part of a broader, institutional, and systemic pattern of institutional and individual failures at Disney that extends far beyond 'The Poof Point.'"
Abuse Alleged to Continue After Filming
Bolleau's allegations extend to the travel after filming concluded. She claims Disney booked her in first class for the flight back to California, while seating her guardian in economy. The lawsuit states the employee then directed her to sit next to him, cover them with a blanket, and sexually assaulted her during the flight until they landed at Los Angeles International Airport.
Bolleau, who also appeared on Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show" and voiced Nubia Gross on Disney's "The Proud Family," is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorneys' fees, costs, and interest. Her lawyers emphasized that this conduct is inexcusable and that those involved must be held accountable.
Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.