Editing Steven Seagal (section)

==Controversies==
{{Criticism section|date=May 2025}}

=== Allegations and lawsuits ===
In May 1991 (during the filming of ''[[Out for Justice]]''), Warner Bros. employees Raenne Malone, Nicole Selinger, and Christine Keeve accused Seagal of [[sexual harassment]].<ref name="LLC1993">{{cite journal|title=Spy|journal = Spy: The New York Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdQ9WL9ODdwC|access-date=February 11, 2013|date=July 8, 1993|publisher=Sussex Publishers, LLC|page=58-|issn=0890-1759}}</ref> In return for remaining silent, Malone and another woman received around $50,000 each in an out-of-court settlement.<ref name="LLC1993"/><ref name="MagazineBooks2000">{{cite book|title=People Entertainment Almanac|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s9RmfR3KoQgC|access-date=February 11, 2013|date=November 1, 2000|publisher=People Magazine, Cader Books|isbn=978-1-929049-07-3|page=522}}</ref> Around the same time, at least four actresses said that Seagal had made sexual advances, typically during late-night "casting sessions".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.american-buddha.com/seagal.seige.htm|title=Siegel Under Siege|last=Zeman|first=Ned|date=October 2002|magazine=Vanity Fair|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030224013611/http://www.american-buddha.com/seagal.seige.htm|archive-date=February 24, 2003|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref> In another incident, [[Jenny McCarthy]] said that Seagal asked her to undress during an audition for ''[[Under Siege 2: Dark Territory]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Buchanan |first=Kyle |url=http://movieline.com/2010/04/16/exclusive-the-full-steven-seagal-story-jenny-mccarthy-told-movieline-in-1998/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: The Full Steven Seagal Story Jenny McCarthy Told Movieline in 1998 |publisher=Movieline |date=April 16, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 1995, Seagal was charged with [[Employment discrimination law in the United States|employment discrimination]], sexual harassment, and [[breach of contract]].<ref name="Inc.1995">{{cite journal|title=Black Belt|journal = Black Belt. Buyer's Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9IDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21|access-date=February 11, 2013|date=June 1995|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|page=21|issn=0277-3066}}</ref> Cheryl Shuman filed a case against Seagal, accusing him of threatening and beating her during the filming of ''[[On Deadly Ground]]''.<ref name="Inc.1995"/> In August 1995, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki dismissed the case, calling the claims "repetitive and unintelligible".<ref name="Inc.1995"/>

On April 12, 2010, 23-year-old Kayden Nguyen filed a lawsuit against Seagal in a [[Los Angeles County Superior Court]], requesting more than one million dollars in [[damages]].<ref name="CBS" /><ref name="BBC" /><ref name="Fox">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/steven-seagal-sued-for-sex-trafficking-assault/|title=Steven Seagal Sued for Sex Trafficking, Assault|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref> In her suit, Nguyen alleged Seagal engaged in sexual harassment, the illegal [[human trafficking|trafficking]] of females for sex, failure to prevent sexual harassment, and [[wrongful termination]].<ref name="CBS">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kayden-nguyen-new-pictures-i-manipulate-men-says-steven-seagal-sex-toy-accuser/|title=Kayden Nguyen (NEW PICTURES): I Manipulate Men, Says Steven Seagal "Sex Toy" Accuser|publisher=[[CBS]]|date=April 14, 2010|access-date=November 6, 2010|first=Edecio|last=Martinez}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8619574.stm|title=Steven Seagal sued for sexual assault|publisher=BBC|date=April 14, 2010|access-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref> Seagal denied the allegations, but his reality show ''[[Steven Seagal: Lawman]]'' was suspended while his attorneys resolved the case.<ref name="BBC" />  On July 14, 2010, three months after Nguyen filed her suit, she withdrew her claim without explanation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment+arts-10645210|title=Steven Seagal sexual harassment case dismissed|publisher=BBC|date=July 15, 2010|access-date=July 28, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718233656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment+arts-10645210|archive-date=July 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b190475_steven_seagals_sex_trafficking.html |title=Steven Seagal's Sex Trafficking 'n' Harassment Suit Dismissed |publisher=E! Online |date=July 14, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

On August 30, 2011, Jesus Sanchez Llovera filed a lawsuit against Seagal over his part in a Maricopa county police raid with heavy weapons (notably including an army surplus tank) of Llovera's residence for suspicion of [[cockfight]]ing. The incident was taped for Seagal's A&E reality show ''Steven Seagal: Lawman''. Llovera was seeking $100,000 for damages caused during the raid and a letter of apology from Seagal to Llovera's children for the death of their family pet. Llovera claimed that his 11-month-old puppy was shot and killed during the raid.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/steven-seagal-threatened-lawsuit-over-police-raid-taped-192501428.html |title=Steven Seagal Threatened With Lawsuit Over Police Raid Taped for Reality Show (Report) – Yahoo TV |publisher=Tv.yahoo.com |date=August 30, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> Llovera failed to file court-ordered paperwork after his attorney withdrew from the case and the lawsuit was dismissed in January 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20130125laveen-man-pleads-guilty-cockfighting.html |title=Laveen man pleads guilty to cockfighting |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191938/http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20130125laveen-man-pleads-guilty-cockfighting.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2017, actress [[Portia de Rossi]] accused Seagal of sexually harassing her during a movie audition. De Rossi alleged that during an audition in Seagal's office, he told her "how important it was to have chemistry off-screen" before unzipping his pants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41936741|title=Portia de Rossi accuses Steven Seagal of sexual harassment|publisher=BBC|date=November 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= Pulver, Andrew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/12/steven-seagal-sexual-misconduct-regina-simons |title=Steven Seagal accused of raping teenage actor in 1993|newspaper=The Guardian |date=January 12, 2018|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> On an April 18 appearance on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', [[Katherine Heigl]] alleged on the final day of shooting for ''Under Siege 2'' that Seagal told her that he had girlfriends the same age as the 16-year-old Heigl. Kimmel responded by displaying a photo from the film's promotional tour showing Seagal's hand on Heigl's chest while they posed for a photo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's Steven Seagal groping a 16-year-old Katherine Heigl |url=https://www.avclub.com/heres-steven-seagal-groping-a-16-year-old-katherine-hei-1819923832 |last=Hughes |first=William |date=October 27, 2017 |website=AV Club |access-date=August 13, 2022}}</ref> 
On November 9, 2017, Dutch model Faviola Dadis posted a statement on her Instagram account stating that she also had been sexually assaulted by Seagal years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hod |first1=Itay |title=Second Woman Claims Steven Seagal Sexually Assaulted Her During 'Private Audition' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/second-woman-says-steven-seagal-sexually-assaulted-private-audition/ |website=The Wrap |access-date=August 5, 2018 |date=November 9, 2017}}</ref>

On January 15, 2018, actress [[Rachel Grant]] publicly accused Seagal of sexually assaulting her in 2002, during pre-production on his direct-to-video film, ''[[Out for a Kill]]'' (2003), stating that she lost her job on the film after the incident.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 15, 2018 |title=Steven Seagal denies Bond girl assault |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42627922 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maddaus |first=Gene |date=February 9, 2018 |title=District Attorney's Office Reviewing Sex Abuse Case Against Steven Seagal |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/steven-seagal-district-attorney-sex-task-force-1202694078/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2018, the [[Los Angeles County District Attorney]]'s office acknowledged that it was reviewing a potential sex-abuse case involving Seagal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=District Attorney's Office Reviewing Sex Abuse Case Against Steven Seagal |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/steven-seagal-district-attorney-sex-task-force-1202694078/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 5, 2018 |date=February 9, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Regina Simons publicly claimed that in 1993, when she was 18, Seagal raped her at his home when she arrived for what she thought was a wrap party for the movie ''On Deadly Ground.''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Amy B. |title=Steven Seagal accused of raping an 18-year-old — adding to decades of claims against the actor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/03/20/steven-seagal-accused-of-raping-an-18-year-old-adding-to-decades-of-claims-against-the-actor/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 5, 2018 |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> In September 2018, Los Angeles prosecutors refused to charge the actor based on Regina Simons accusations, due to California's [[statute of limitations]]. Two months later, the case involving the actress Rachel Grant was dismissed for the same reasons.<ref>Dobuzinskis, Alex (December 22, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1OL047/ "Prosecutors close Steven Seagal sex assault inquiry without charges"]. [[Reuters]].</ref>

=== Victim of attempted extortion ===
Seagal became embroiled in a legal case involving film producer [[Julius R. Nasso]] after Nasso attempted to extort Seagal. Nasso produced seven of Seagal's films beginning with ''[[Marked for Death]]'' in 1990. The two "became best friends", according to Seagal, and formed [[Steamroller Productions|Seagal/Nasso Productions]] together. Their relationship became strained, however, and their partnership ended in 2000. Believing that Seagal owed him $3 million in compensation for backing out of a four-film deal, Nasso enlisted members of the [[Gambino crime family]] to threaten Seagal in an attempt to recoup money Nasso allegedly lost.<ref name="latimes.com">{{Cite web |last=Lieberman |first=Paul |date=February 12, 2003 |title=Seagal Testifies, Explains His Ties to Mob Family |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-12-na-seagal12-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gambino family captain [[Anthony Ciccone]] first visited Seagal in [[Toronto]] during the filming of ''[[Exit Wounds]]'' in October 2000.<ref name="latimes.com"/> In January 2001, [[Primo Cassarino]] and other gangsters picked up Seagal by car to bring him to a meeting with Ciccone at a [[Brooklyn]] restaurant. At the meeting, Ciccone reportedly told Seagal that he had a choice of making four promised movies with Nasso or paying Nasso a penalty of $150,000 per movie, and that if Seagal refused, Ciccone would kill him.<ref name="seagal mob">{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Seagal's mob terror Star to testify on scary date with gangsters|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/seagal-mob-terror-star-testify-scary-date-gangsters-article-1.662631|access-date=April 10, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=February 10, 2003}}</ref>

Seagal, who later claimed that he brought a handgun to the meeting, was able to stall Ciccone and escape the meeting unharmed.<ref name="under siege">{{cite news|last=Gendar|first=Alison|title=Action star Steven Seagal under {{sic|se|ige|hide=y}} again by lawsuit from mobbed-up movie producer Julius Nasso|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2010/03/16/action-star-steven-seagal-under-seige-again-by-lawsuit-from-mobbed-up-movie-producer-julius-nasso/|access-date=January 28, 2025|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> In the spring of 2001, Seagal sought out another mobster, [[Genovese crime family]] captain [[Angelo Prisco]], to act as a "peacemaker". He visited Prisco in prison at [[Rahway, New Jersey]] and paid Prisco's lawyer $10,000.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/12/seagal-stars-in-ny-trial-of-mafia/e830cd7f-6098-444d-acb5-9cbfb9f39186/ Seagal Stars in N.Y. Trial Of Mafia] Michael Powell, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (February 12, 2003)</ref>

On March 17, 2003, Cassarino, Ciccone and others were convicted of labor racketeering, extortion, and 63 other counts under the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]].<ref>[http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/scams/steven_seagal/index.html "STEVEN SEAGAL AND THE MOB"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215184256/http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/scams/steven_seagal/index.html |date=December 15, 2006 }} TruTV Crime Library</ref> Seagal testified for the prosecution about the mobsters' extortion attempt.<ref name="teflon gone">{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=GOTTI & 6 TAKE FALL IN B'KLYN THE TEFLON'S LONG GONE|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/gotti-6-fall-b-klyn-teflon-long-article-1.659406|access-date=April 10, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=March 18, 2003}}</ref> Nasso pleaded guilty to the charge of extortion conspiracy in August 2003. In February 2004, he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, fined $75,000 and ordered to take mental health counselling on release from jail.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/feb/18/news1 Seagal mob saga comes to an end] ''[[The Guardian]]'' (February 18, 2004)</ref> In January 2008, Nasso agreed to drop a $60 million lawsuit against Seagal for an alleged breach of contract when the two settled out of court.<ref>[https://www.silive.com/news/2008/01/staten_island_film_producer_ac.html Staten Island film producer, action movie star, settle out of court on $60M suit] ''[[Staten Island Advance]]'' (January 7, 2008)</ref>

===Conflicts with stuntmen===
Seagal has been accused by former stunt performers who have worked with him, including [[Kane Hodder]], [[Stephen Quadros]], and [[Gene LeBell]], of intentionally hitting stuntmen during scenes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Jason (Kane Hodder) | date=November 5, 2022 |url=http://www.unratedmagazine.com/Bios/_Artists.cfm?Band_ID=2117 |publisher=Unrated Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Karlukovski |first1=George |title=Martial Arts Illustrated |date=July 2007 |publisher=MAJ Publications |asin=B00CSMKRI8 |pages=27–28}}</ref> Additionally, while serving as stunt coordinator for ''[[Out for Justice]]'', LeBell allegedly got into an on-set altercation with Seagal over his mistreatment of some of the film's stunt performers. After the actor claimed that, due to his [[aikido]] training, he was "immune" to being choked unconscious, LeBell supposedly offered Seagal the opportunity to prove it. With Seagal's permission, LeBell then successfully choked him unconscious, with Seagal losing bowel control. Although LeBell  has not directly confirmed the rumor, he implied that it was true in a 2012 interview.<ref name="sing">{{Cite web |date=March 2012 |title=Gene LeBell talks Steven Seagal s----ing himself |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/390705/Gene-LeBell-talks-Steven-Seagal-s----ing-himself/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217044204/https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/390705/Gene-LeBell-talks-Steven-Seagal-s----ing-himself/ |archive-date=2015-02-17 |access-date=2015-03-18 |website=mixedmartialarts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Al-Shatti |first=Shaun |date=2012-03-11 |title=Legendary Gene LeBell Talks Ronda Rousey, MMA Judging and Choking Out Steven Seagal |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/strikeforce/2012/3/11/2858055/judo-gene-lebell-ronda-rousey-mma-judging-choking-out-steven-segal |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> Seagal's bodyguard and stuntman Steven Lambert stated that a confrontation did happen, during which Seagal elbowed LeBell before he could lock the hold, after which LeBell flipped Seagal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yFI_PhGPbc |title=Truth Finally Revealed on Seagal and LeBell According to Actual Eyewitness Steven Lambert Testimony! |website=YouTube |date=March 14, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317131125/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yFI_PhGPbc |url-status=live }}</ref> Seagal has directly denied that a confrontation took place, calling LeBell a "sick, pathological scumbag liar".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenness |first=Kirik |date=2015-12-17 |title=Steven Seagal denies Gene LeBell made him poop his pants |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma/rousey-i-bet-i-could-beat-steven-seagal |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=MMA Underground |language=en}}</ref>

[[Robert Wall|Robart Wall]] included LeBell in his "Dirty Dozen", a list of martial artists willing to answer to a public challenge made by Seagal.<ref name="Nils">Thomas Nilsson, ''A Conversation with "The Toughest Man Alive": "Judo" Gene LeBell Has Seen and Done It All in a 50-Year Martial Arts Career'', Black Belt magazine, February 1999</ref> LeBell however declined to participate, as the feud with Seagal was hurting him professionally. He did however criticize Seagal for his treatment of stuntmen, and left open the possibility of a professional fight if Seagal wanted.<ref>David W. Clary, ''Wall Challenges Seagal to Face "Dirty Dozen"'', Black Belt magazine, March 1992</ref>

Allegations of mistreatment towards stuntmen have continued throughout Seagal's later career, with both stuntman Peter Harris Kent ([[Arnold Schwarzenegger|Arnold Schwarzenegger']]s stunt double) and [[Mike Leeder]] publicly criticizing his on-set antics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bick |first1=Jordan |title=Stunt Double Has Choice Words For Steven Seagal |url=http://www.manlymovie.net/2015/09/stunt-double-has-choice-words-for-steven-seagal.html |website=www.manlymovie.net|date=September 4, 2015 }}</ref> Actor [[John Leguizamo]] also claimed that during rehearsals on ''[[Executive Decision]]'', in retaliation for laughing at him, Seagal caught him off guard and knocked him into a brick wall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ghomeshi |first1=Jian |title=John Leguizamo Slams Steven Seagal on Q TV |date=November 4, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB1RvU8UR38 |publisher=Q on CBC |access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> [[Michael Jai White]], who acted with him in a number of movies, stated that he routinely hit stunt men, and that he was known for it. He said they just accepted it. However, he stated that Seagal never hit him.<ref>{{Citation |title=Michael Jai White: Steven Seagal Knew Not to Hit Me in Fight Scenes (Part 17) | date=August 15, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz7U1YGzqFc |language=en |access-date=May 4, 2022}}</ref>