In a recent investigation by The Guardian US, renowned American magician David Copperfield has been accused by 16 women of engaging in sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Over half of the allegations come from women who claimed they were under 18 at the time of the incidents, with some alleging they were as young as 15. Copperfield, 67, has denied all wrongdoing.

The accusations against Copperfield, spanning from the late 1980s to 2014, include claims that he drugged three women before engaging in sexual acts with them, leaving them unable to consent. The Guardian's investigation involved interviews with over 100 individuals and examinations of court and police records.

The women who have come forward with allegations against Copperfield claim to have met him through his work as one of the most successful entertainers in the world. Some revealed that it was only after the rise of the #MeToo movement that they felt empowered to share their stories about their alleged experiences with Copperfield. While some chose to disclose their identities, others spoke out on the condition of anonymity.

The magician's lawyers responded to the claims, stating that Copperfield has "never acted inappropriately with anyone, let alone anyone underage." They described him as a champion of the #MeToo movement and emphasized his kindness, shyness, and respectful treatment of both men and women. Copperfield's legal team also pointed out that there have been previous "numerous false claims" made against him.

It is worth noting that Copperfield has faced accusations of misconduct in the past. One of the women involved in the investigation, Brittney Lewis, came forward in 2018 with allegations that Copperfield had drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1988 when she was a 17-year-old model. Copperfield denied these claims.

The Guardian's investigation revealed other instances where women claimed that Copperfield had groped them or engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior during live performances. Three of these women were teenagers at the time of the alleged incidents. Family members of one 15-year-old in the audience even claimed to have witnessed Copperfield groping her breasts.

Fallon Thornton, 38, also accused Copperfield of squeezing her breast during a 2014 performance. She reported the incident to both MGM and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, but the case was closed due to "insufficient evidence." Requests for video footage of the performance from Copperfield's team, the Las Vegas police, and MGM were denied.

Copperfield's association with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker who died in prison in 2019, has also come under scrutiny. Copperfield was mentioned in unsealed court documents related to Epstein, but his lawyers maintain that he had no knowledge of Epstein's alleged crimes and had no reason to contact law enforcement.

In the midst of these accusations, Copperfield had announced a partnership with global charity Save the Children for a stunt scheduled for February 2024 to make the moon "disappear." However, the collaboration ended on January 4, 2024, one day after Copperfield's name was mentioned in the unsealed court records. Save the Children declined to comment on their decision.

As the investigation unfolds, Copperfield's lawyers state that their client takes these attacks on his reputation seriously and hopes to continue his partnership with Save the Children in the future. They emphasize that Copperfield has never been charged with a crime.

The Guardian's investigation sheds light on the serious allegations surrounding David Copperfield, raising important questions about accountability and the entertainment industry's response to sexual misconduct claims.