Former Child Actress Sues Disney Over Alleged On-Set Sexual Assault
Raquel Lee Boileau, a former child actress known for starring in the 2001 Disney Channel film "The Poof Point," has filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company alleging she was sexually abused by an adult crew member during production and that Disney executives knew about the abuse and failed to protect her.
The lawsuit was filed Aug. 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Boileau, who was 14 at the time the film was shot in Salt Lake City, Utah, alleges she was "repeatedly raped, sexually assaulted, sexually abused and sexually harassed" by an unnamed adult male employee identified in the complaint only as "John Doe," described as a middle-aged crew member involved in the film's production.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the complaint, the alleged abuse began with the employee inviting Boileau and her guardian to his hotel room under the premise of rehearsing lines, where she was encouraged to drink alcohol before later being invited back to the room alone. The lawsuit alleges the abuse occurred on multiple occasions in the employee's hotel room during production and again on a flight back to Los Angeles once filming wrapped.
The complaint states, "Mr. Doe's sexual abuse of Ms. Boileau was apparent to the adults on Disney's set," and alleges the company "repeatedly failed" to intervene despite visible signs of what she was experiencing. The lawsuit claims Boileau's professional performance noticeably declined as production continued, and that Disney executives responded by criticizing her behavior rather than recognizing signs of trauma, with the complaint alleging she was accused of being "out of control" and causing the production to go "haywire."
The suit further alleges that Disney later threatened to remove her from an unrelated, previously planned project with the studio.
Legal Grounds for the Claim
Boileau's attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Jane Kim, filed the case under a set of California laws designed to give survivors of childhood sexual abuse a longer path to pursue civil claims. Under a 2020 California measure, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have until their 40th birthday to file civil claims, and a 2023 addition removed the statute of limitations entirely for abuse occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2024. Under the applicable law, a plaintiff can seek triple actual damages if it's proven that a company, institution or individual knew about abuse and chose to conceal it, which is the core allegation Boileau's complaint makes against Disney.
The complaint also references Disney's past handling of sexual misconduct allegations more broadly, stating, "This is not the first time that Disney has enabled a sexual predator to target and abuse vulnerable victims," and alleging what it calls a "longstanding and horrifying history" tied to similar claims.
About the Film and Disney's Response
"The Poof Point," which debuted on the Disney Channel on Sept. 14, 2001, starred Mark Curry and Dawnn Lewis as eccentric scientists alongside their on-screen children, played by Boileau and Tahj Mowry. The lawsuit does not name Disney's current leadership or any currently employed staff as defendants, and does not identify the alleged perpetrator by name.
Disney has not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of this week. Boileau is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
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