The Friars Club Gets “Roasted” for Sexual Harassment
Rehanna Almestica, former receptionist for The Friars Club, a private club in New York city best known for its bawdy celebrity roasts, is accusing former co-employee, Bruce Charet, of sexual harassment. She has filed a suit against Charet, the Friars Club, and the management of the club. Charet, is not only the “Friars Club scribe” but also a showbiz historian. Some examples of his alleged sexual harassment include:
- Charet frequently making sexually explicit phone calls to Almestica. On one occasion, he called her and alluded to the fact that he was having an orgasm.
- Charet exposing Almestica to pornographic images while they were both working at the club’s Midtown headquarters.
- Charet brushing his groin against Almestica.
- Charet saying inappropriate things to Almesitca such as asking her to describe her underwear and offering to buy her shoes if she performed oral sex on him.
- Charet threatening to fire Almestica if she told anyone about the sexual harassment.
- Charet manipulating Almestica by telling her that it was his influence that was responsible for her job at the club.
Almestica, mother of a three year old, worked for the club from 2007 to 2015. In 2014, she alleges she made a formal complaint to Michael Gyure, the Executive Director of the club. At that time, he told her that he would take care of it.
Though an attorney for the club denies having seen Almestica’s current suit, he does claim that the former allegations have already been investigated and denies any basis for the current complaint.
Opened in 1904, The Friars Club has a membership roster composed of mostly comedians and other celebrities such as Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jack Black. Some of the celebrities who have been “roasted” at the club include Quentin Tarantino, Betty White, and Donald Trump.
What do you think of The Friars Club being “roasted” for sexual harassment?
