Ex-'SNL' Star Horatio Sanz Denies He Sexually Assaulted Underage Fan, Claims She Demanded Millions For Her Silence Before Filing Lawsuit
Aug. 12 2021, Published 6:25 p.m. ET
Former Saturday Night Live star Horatio Sanz is speaking out through his lawyers, who deny their client sexually assaulted a fan in 2002.
His response comes after a woman from Pennsylvania sued the comedian over an alleged incident that she says took place in May 2002. She claims Sanz sexually assaulted her at an after-party when she was only 17 years old.
The accuser, who is referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, alleges the star groped her butt and her breasts without consent during an SNL after-party nearly 20 years ago. The accuser also claims it occurred in front of a group of NBC employees.
According to the accuser’s lawsuit, she was only 15 and running an SNL fanbase when she first encountered Sanz.
She claims the comedian started grooming her immediately, flirted with her when they eventually met in person, and became increasingly sexual when they conversed online. According to the lawsuit, the accuser also claims Sanz knew she was not of age when the alleged sexual assault took place.
Jane Doe believes NBC should have known what was going on at the time and stepped in.
The lawsuit also claims that the alleged sexual assault victim came face to face with Sanz again as recently as 2019 during a New York City comedy event. Sanz allegedly acknowledged having sex with the then underage girl over the internet and even masturbating while they talked online.
Sanz allegedly acknowledged having "cybersex" with the then underage girl over the internet and even masturbating while they talked online.
After the report of the lawsuit against Sanz broke on Thursday, his lawyer came out with a public statement categorically denying the accusations in the lawsuit.
Sanz’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, reportedly called the accusations against his client “categorically false” and “ludicrous.”
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Brettler allegedly told TMZ that “before filing this lawsuit anonymously, she demanded $7.5 million in exchange for her silence. We, of course, refused and will vigorously contest these totally meritless claims."
The alleged sexual assault victim is suing Sanz, NBCUniversal, and SNL Studios for damages.
