Posted on 04/14/2022 8:16:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Molly Shannon said on a recent episode of “The Howard Stern Show” (via People) that she was sexually harassed by comedian and “Diff’rent Strokes” star Gary Coleman. The “Saturday Night Live” veteran also detailed the alleged incident in her new memoir, “Hello, Molly!” Shannon said she had just signed with Coleman’s manager at the time and got the chance to meet him at his penthouse hotel room.
“I think he was like, ‘Sit down [on the bed].’ It was very sweet,” Shannon said. “And then he’s, like, tickling me a little. This and that.”
Shannon told Coleman that she was “a virgin” and she tried “to be polite” about turning down his advances. Coleman allegedly only became more aggressive with her.
“He was relentless,” Shannon said. “Then, he was like trying to kiss me and get on top and I was like, ‘No, Gary. Stop.’ So, I push him off. Then, I would get off the bed. Then, he would bounce on the bed. Jump, jump, jump. And wrap himself around me. Then, I would fling him off. And then he got on top of me. I guess because of his size I didn’t feel physically threatened. But … it was going on and on. Repeating. I would throw him off, he would get back on. And then finally, I throw him off. I was really getting out of breath because it was athletic and aerobic.”
“He grabs me onto my leg and I was like [trying to] kick him off,” Shannon continued. “And then, I go lock myself in the bathroom and then he sticks his hands under the door. And he’s like, ‘I can see you.'”
Shannon said she “sprinted out” of the room after coming out of the booth and later told her agent “watch” Coleman better. Shannon added, “I wish I could have stood up for myself more.”
Watch Shannon’s full appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” in the video below.
She should be flattered.
But, Molly Shannon? With all the books that are on my shelf that I intend to get to someday, I am going to plunk down 30 bucks for a memoir by Molly Shannon? I don't care if she was molested by Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, I am sure the juicy parts would be widely available online. Hardly seems worth the time.
I remember her telling the story before on Conan or something.
Love Molly Shannon.
Was curious about when this happened, their ages and status. It happened in 1987. He was 19, a couple of years after Different Strokes ended, so I suppose he was still a big star. She was a 23 year-old unknown, since she didn’t start SNL until 1995.
Going on Howard Stern’s show and complaining about being sexually harassed as a young actress? I’m sure he was very sympathetic, no, shocked.
Gary died in a fall in his home. Some theorize he was chucked down the stairs, but no charges were filed.
It was hard for her to fight him off given she didn’t move her arms.
no respect for her at all.....
He moved here to Denver, and initially lived in a mansion in Highlands Ranch. But apparently his own parents were essentially stealing everything he had made. I remember him suing them at one point. He worked for a while at a model railroad store on South Broadway, I think first because he enjoyed it but later out of necessity. And I also remember him working as a security guard, as you mentioned, when his financial situation got really bad. He also had serious health problems his entire life, but I don’t remember what his illness was.
I have no idea what he did or didn’t do to Molly Shannon (that has to be one of the most implausible stories of all time), but I never heard anything but good things about him personally when he lived here. Like his fellow cast members, his life was filled with tragedy, but at least in his case it had nothing to do with his own behavior. He seemed to take all of his challenges in stride, unlike the others who fell into drugs, crime, and despair. I always thought it was remarkable how after being rich and famous, and then having that essentially stolen from him, he just soldiered on and supported himself with very unglamorous jobs, all while dealing with worsening health. I remember seeing him interviewed once or twice during that time, and he seemed very humble and good natured about everything. I’ve always felt so sorry for him and the way his life ended.
Yes, case in point the tragic life of Bobby Driscoll. He seemed to have a lot of talent and could have transitioned to adult roles via the massively expanding TV market. It didn’t happen and he went into a depressive spiral to death as a vagrant, in spite of a supportive family.
Yes, case in point the tragic life of Bobby Driscoll. He seemed to have a lot of talent and could have transitioned to adult roles via the massively expanding TV market. It didn’t happen and he went into a depressive spiral to death as a vagrant, in spite of a supportive family.
Gary Coleman’s co-star, Dana Plato, also fell into a spiral, after a failed marriage, no offers, and either ended up ither committing suicide or overdosing. Her only son, committed suicide years, later.
Jodie Foster seemed well-grounded, and never was one to talk about her private life, or family life. She went on to Harvard to have a career to fall back on, and learned how to speak French.
I recall that Gary Coleman was one of the candidates for California governor during the Gray Davis recall that Schwarzenegger ended up winning. He paid $3K as the “entry” fee and amassed the required number of signatures. He ran a tongue-in-cheek campaign and received in the neighborhood of 3000-4000 votes. It was an amusing distraction.
Never heard of her, but that dwarf negro, yeah. He ran for governor IIRC.
Why didn’t she just dwarf toss him?
Maybe he tried to up on her.
I’m sorry. I’ll see myself out.
We should have elected Coleman instead.
U win the internet today :-)
Molly Shannon was a player on Saturday Night Live. She has a memoir out now and is promoting it by telling some of the stories in it.
Oh come on! Look is up on IMDB.com. She sit 10 inches taller than Gary Coleman was.
Didn’t he have delayed puberty though? I recall seeing him interviewed - it could have been as early as 1987 - said he was finally able to grow a mustache.
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