James Dolan, the prominent figure in the entertainment industry known for his involvement with Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks, faces allegations of sexual assault as of Tuesday.
According to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, massage therapist Kellye Croft accused Dolan, aged 68, of sexually assaulting her approximately a decade ago while she was traveling with his band, The Eagles. Croft alleges that Dolan, whose band was performing as the opening act for The Eagles, subjected her to repeated unwanted sexual advances starting in late 2013.
Furthermore, Croft claims that Dolan arranged for her to travel to Los Angeles to work on The Eagles’ tour in early 2014, during which he facilitated a meeting with Harvey Weinstein. Croft alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in January 2014 as a result of Dolan’s actions.
In a statement, Croft expressed her desire for Dolan to acknowledge his actions and take responsibility for the harm caused to her. She asserts that she informed Dolan immediately after the assault by Weinstein, and he appeared unsurprised by her revelation. Dolan’s attorney, E. Danya Perry, dismissed Croft’s allegations, stating that they lack merit and are retaliatory in nature. Perry emphasized that there is evidence supporting Dolan’s position and questioned the credibility of Croft’s claims.
Douglas Wigdor, Croft’s legal representative, refuted the notion that he had lost multiple cases against Dolan and underscored that the lawsuit aims to hold Dolan accountable. Croft seeks punitive damages, as well as compensation for lost wages, and mental and emotional distress, among other damages. Responding to the allegations, Weinstein’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, emphasized his denial of the accusations, dismissing them as baseless.
Harvey Weinstein, left, with James Dolan in 2015. Dolan was on the board of Weinstein’s production company. PHOTO: ANDREW TOTH/GETTY IMAGES
Weinstein, a former film producer who co-founded Miramax and Weinstein Co., witnessed the collapse of his empire following allegations of sexual harassment published in 2017 by the New York Times and the New Yorker. Subsequently, his conviction on rape charges further exacerbated his downfall. These revelations prompted a wave of women to step forward with their own accounts of sexual assault, igniting the #MeToo movement.
At 71 years old, Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York after being convicted in 2020 on charges of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act. In addition, he was handed an additional 16 years in prison in California in February 2023 following a jury’s verdict of guilt on charges of forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration with a foreign object, and rape. Despite the convictions, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges.
Dolan’s family empire encompasses prominent entities such as the New York Knicks and Rangers, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Las Vegas’s Sphere arena. He assumed the role of chairman of AMC Networks in 2020, succeeding his father.
Notably, Dolan was a member of the board of Weinstein’s production company and has characterized him in interviews as a close friend. In 2018, Dolan released a song titled “I Should’ve Known,” reflecting on his lack of awareness regarding Weinstein’s behavior and that of other men accused of similar misconduct.