Spanish director Carlos Vermut accused of sexual violence by three more women

The latest allegations against independent filmmaker Vermut were disclosed by El País, the paper that initially broke the story at the end of January, presenting testimonies from three women who asserted that he had subjected them to sexual violence. ALSO READ: Spanish film director denies accusations of sexual violence by three women.

The new alleged victims, all from the cultural sector, had varying degrees of relationship with the 43-year-old director, who gained recognition with two top prizes at the 2014 San Sebastian film festival for his second feature, Magical Girl. 

Despite being regarded as a rising star within Spain’s independent film scene, Vermut, whose real name is Carlos López del Rey, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in numerous interviews with El País.

The recent incidents, reportedly occurring between October 2012 and the beginning of January this year, allegedly involved Vermut coercing the women into engaging in sexual activities they had not consented to.

‘The sex was very rough, he really hurt me,’ one told the newspaper, saying he had forced her to have anal sex, causing ‘tearing’.

Another spoke about sex involving ‘beatings, choking and verbal humiliation’, describing it as ‘not a game, nor a non-conventional practice, but violence for violence’s sake’.

The third, an actress who began a relationship with him in March 2023 which lasted until January, spoke of two episodes of enforced sexual violence after months of psychological abuse.

As with the first three, these latest victims also asked to remain anonymous and none of them filed a police complaint for fear of not being believed, the paper said.

Vermut did not provide comment in response to El País’ latest inquiry. Previously, he denied the allegations in three separate interviews, saying he was not ‘aware of having exercised sexual violence against any woman’.

‘I have always practised rough sex in a consensual manner,’ he said.

The revelations shook Spanish cinema which appears to be only lately feeling the effects of the #Metoo movement which emerged in 2017 and saw a string of major figures from the world of cinema accused of sexual violence.

Several testimonies also emerged about another less-known director, Armando Ravelo, with one female artist saying he offered to give her drugs and show her porn when she was 14.

In mid-February, Spain’s culture ministry said it would set up a unit to tackle abuse allegations within the sector.

Last summer, Spanish football was rocked by a scandal when the now disgraced football chief Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. Banned by FIFA for three years, he’s now facing trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion. ALSO READ: Luis Rubiales to face trial for kissing Jenni Hermoso at Women’s World Cup.

Also this month, a Barcelona court jailed former Brazil star Dani Alves for four years and six months for raping a young woman at a nightclub in the city. ALSO READ: Dani Alves sentenced to 4.5 years, after being found guilty of rape.