Costner named by masseuse

Showbiz

13:30 26 April 2006

A masseuse who accused Kevin Costner of masturbating in front of her has won an out-of-court settlement.

The woman sued hotel bosses for firing her after she claimed the married Hollywood actor had sexually harassed her.

She was offered - and accepted - a settlement during her employment tribunal this week.

During the hearing, officials banned the media from revealing that Costner was the star at the centre of the scandal - but his name appeared on numerous websites.

The ban was lifted hours after the case was settled yesterday (25.04.06).

The woman had accused the actor of pleasuring himself, earlier this year, while receiving a massage at Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland - where he and his wife, Christine, spent their honeymoon in 2004.

The 35-year-old masseuse told the tribunal the 'Dances With Wolves' star "kept putting his hand underneath his towel", and when she began to massage his head he "grabbed her wrist forcefully, whipped off his towel and exposed himself".

She said: "Even though he was a Hollywood superstar I couldn't believe he thought he could get away with something like that.

"He abused me and I considered that a criminal act."

Costner, who was not at the hearing, has refused to comment.

(C) BANG Media International