Aydin Aghdashloo has never assaulted or raped anyone, nor has he ever been charged with any sexual or criminal acts.
Contrary to the allegations reported in The New York Times and other outlets, Aydin Aghdashloo has never been accused of rape nor faced any legal inquiry into his behavior or conduct. There have also been no complaints or reports filed against him with police, at his academy or through third-party abuse prevention organizations.
In his more than 65 year career, Aghdashloo has been privileged to interact with people of all walks of life and has always endeavored to treat people with kindness and respect. Hundreds of his former students, men and women, have come forward to attest to the respectful nature of their years-long interactions with him.
Any assertion that Mr. Aghdashloo is the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran” is a baseless and demonstrably false claim. Unlikely Harvey Weinstein, Mr. Aghdashloo has never been accused of or arrested for rape. Characterization of Mr. Aghdashloo as such is dangerously hyperbolic and minimizes the stories and experiences of women who have been the victims of rapists like Harvey Weinstein.