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HGTV Star Carter Oosterhouse Accused of Misconduct

Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

From Redbook

HGTV host Carter Oosterhouse, who first rose to fame as the star of TLC's Trading Spaces, has been accused of sexual misconduct by a former colleague.

Kailey Kaminsky, a former makeup artist from Oosterhouse's show Carter Can, told The Hollywood Reporter that he repeatedly coerced her into performing oral sex on him during production in 2008, which she says ultimately led to her being hospitalized for depression and losing her job.

"At that point, I was a nervous wreck. I was so worn down from his advances, so I did: that day, on that occasion," Kaminsky said, alleging that she agreed to Oosterhouse's demands after he threatened her job. "It was the first time. Then thereafter it was almost every time we would shoot - 10 to 15 times he put me in this position."

In a statement to THR, Oosterhouse acknowledged that he had been an "an intimate relationship" with Kaminsky but denied that it was coercive, calling it "100% mutual." He claimed that it was never indicated to him that Kaminsky was uncomfortable, and that he "would have never done anything that I was not sure was mutually agreeable. The reality is that I knew it was consensual because she initiated it the first time and many of the 15 or so times ... thereafter." Oosterhouse also stated that aside from Kaminsky, he has never had an intimate relationship with any crew-member or executive on a production in his professional life.

In a follow-up interview, Oosterhouse re-asserted he's never been intimate with any other crew-members or executives on any production in his professional career aside from Kaminsky. He declined to comment when asked whether a sexual relationship could ever truly be consensual between the star of a TV show and a show staffer whose employment is dependent on remaining in the star's favor.

Oosterhouse has been married to Amy Smart since 2011, and has an 11-month-old daughter with the actress.

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