Gwyneth Paltrow has claimed she thought she was being sexually assaulted during her 2016 ski slope collision in Utah.
The 50-year-old actress also alleges that fellow skier Terry Sanderson, 76, made a “strange grunting” noise after barging into her from behind.
Mr Sanderson is suing Ms Paltrow for $300,000 (£245,000) after claiming he sustained “a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries” when she crashed into him during the Dear Valley Resort incident.
READ MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow’s court look compared to serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer
The Oscar-winning actress, meanwhile, is seeking $1 in damages and legal fees herself.
Giving evidence on the fourth day of the expected eight-day trial, Ms Paltrow told the court that retired optometrist Mr Sanderson came up from behind and his skis went in between her legs, with his body pressing into her back.
(Image: AP)
Sanderson’s lawyer asked: “Did you know if it was an intentional assault of a sexual nature? Was he grinding or thrusting? What made you think it was a sexual assault?”
She answered: “It was a quick thought that went through my head. There was a strange grunting noise and a body behind me so I was trying to make sense of what was going on. My mind was going very quickly.”
Ms Paltrow reiterated multiple times that she had been skied into from behind by Mr Sanderson.
“My daughter was down the hill, my son was to my left, so I was skiing and my eyes were not fixated on my son when Mr Sanderson skied directly into my back,” she said. “I was confused at first and I didn’t know exactly what was happening.
(Image: Sky News)
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“It’s a very strange thing to happen on a ski slope. I froze and I would say I got very upset a couple of seconds later.”
She added: “(I thought) Is this a practical joke? Is someone doing something perverted? My mind was going very quickly and trying to ascertain what was happening.”
According to Ms Paltrow’s deposition, the pair had come “crashing down together” and their bodies were “almost spooning”.
She added: “Two skis came between my skis, forcing my legs apart. And there was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise. My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
