X-Men Director Bryan Singer Breaks Silence on Sex-Abuse Allegations, Calls Lawsuit a "Twisted Shakedown"

Man also suing three other Hollywood executives has accused the filmmaker of drugging and raping him when he was 17; Singer says he won't be doing press for X-Men: Days of Future Past

UPDATE (July 30, 2014): Plaintiff Michael Egan's attorney, Jeff Herman, filed to withdraw as counsel, reportedly after Egan refused a $100,000 settlement that Herman had reached with Singer's legal camp.
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Bryan Singer has spoken out in response to a man's lawsuit alleging that the filmmaker sexually assaulted him when he was 17 years old.

"The allegations against me are outrageous, vicious and completely false," the director said Thursday in a statement obtained by E! News.

"I do not want these fictitious claims to divert ANY attention from X-Men: Days of Future Past. This fantastic film is a labor of love and one of the greatest experiences of my career. So, out of respect to all of the extraordinary contributions from the incredibly talented actors and crew involved, I've decided not to participate in the upcoming media events for the film. However, I promise when this situation is over, the facts will show this to be the sick twisted shakedown it is.

"I want to thank fans, friends and family for all their amazing and overwhelming support."

X-Men: Days of Future Past, whose cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Michael Fassbender, is due in theaters May 23.

Before today's announcement, Singer skipped a scheduled appearance at WonderCon over the weekend in Los Angeles.

Plaintiff Michael Egan filed his lawsuit in federal court in April 1, alleging that Singer drugged and raped a then-17-year-old Egan in 1999, having "manipulated his power, wealth, and position in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse and exploit the underage Plaintiff through the use of drugs, alcohol, threats, and inducements."

Singer's attorney Martin Singer blasted the accusations as "absurd and defamatory" and "completely fabricated."

After taking action against Singer, Egan then filed separate sex-abuse complaints against three other current or former entertainment-industry executives, Garth Ancier, David Neuman and Gary Goddard.

Lawyers for Ancier said in a statment to E! News: "All of the allegations made by the plaintiff against Garth Ancier are demonstrably untrue, and we are confident the courts will agree when the evidence is presented.  As just one of many examples, Mr. Ancier has never even visited the estate in Hawaii where the plaintiff claims to have encountered him. Mr. Ancier is grateful to his friends, family and colleagues for their support."

"Based on what we have heard, the allegations are without merit," Goddard's lawyer, Alan Grodin, said in a statement to the New York Daily News. "Once we have seen the complaint, we will respond appropriately."

Neuman himself took to Twitter, writing, "I just want everyone to know right now that the disgusting allegations made against me are COMPLETELY FALSE. Also very shocking in that they don't just stretch the truth, they are whole-cloth lies with zero basis in reality or truth."

At a news conference Monday announcing the additional lawsuits, Egan told reporters, per Variety. "Somebody has to stand up to these people."