Updated January 11, 2018 08:46:24

Photo: Actor Michael Douglas has denied an accusation of sexual misconduct. (Reuters: Carlo Allegri)

Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas has issued a pre-emptive denial of a sexual misconduct accusation, saying he wanted to get ahead of a potential story being investigated by Hollywood publications.

In a lengthy interview with entertainment industry website Deadline.com, Douglas denied he had masturbated in front of a woman who worked for him about 32 years ago.

"This is a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever," Douglas said.

Douglas described the former employee as "sophisticated" and "intelligent", with a "good sense of humour".

He said he had not had any contact with her in more than 30 years.

The accusation by the unidentified woman has not been published but Douglas said he had been informed by his attorneys in December that The Hollywood Reporter and other publications were investigating her claim.

As more revelations come out, it's raising some uncomfortable questions of etiquette.

"I felt the need to get ahead of this," Douglas, 73, told Deadline.

"I had the choice of waiting for a story to come out, one that will clearly get picked up by other newspapers and magazines, and then I have to sit there and try to defend myself."

The double Oscar-winner is the second celebrity to get his version of events out before being publicly accused of sexual impropriety in a scandal that has rocked Hollywood and led to many men being fired or cut out of projects.

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock posted a social media message last month saying he was "part of the problem", adding he had in the past been accused of rape and had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Douglas told Deadline he had been informed by his attorney that the woman also accused him of using coarse language around her, but not to her, and claimed that he had "blackballed" her in the industry after firing her.

The actor denied blackballing the woman but admitted using "colourful language" in conversations with friends in his home and office.

Douglas said he supported the #MeToo movement by those breaking their silence over past sexual harassment, and that he had the support of his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and his children.

Reuters/AP

Topics: sexual-offences, law-crime-and-justice, arts-and-entertainment, united-states

First posted January 11, 2018 08:43:01