Earlier this month, Michael Douglas pre-emptively denied a claim of sexual harassment. Now his accuser has shared her story that the actor allegedly masturbated in front of her in 1989.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, journalist and author Susan Braudy claims that during her time working for Douglas, when she ran the New York office of his production company, his behavior started with inappropriate sexual conversation.

She claims he openly discussed an affair with co-star Kathleen Turner, made lewd remarks about Braudy’s sex life and made so many comments about her body that she started to wear “long, loose layers of black”. But one day in his office, the situation worsened.

“I peered at him and saw he’d inserted both hands into his unzipped pants,” Braudy said. “I realized to my horror that he was rubbing his private parts. Within seconds his voice cracked and it appeared to me he’d had an orgasm.”

Shocked, she rushed to the door. “I said nothing,” she said. “I was surprised I wasn’t falling to pieces even though I was humiliated. I realized he thought he could do anything he wanted because he was so much more powerful than I was. Michael ran barefoot after me to the elevator, zipping his fly and buckling his belt. ‘Hey, thank you, you’re good. You helped me, thank you, thank you.’”

She claims that she told people after the incident, including Fire and Fury author Michael Wolff, who confirmed this via email to the Hollywood Reporter. “We have discussed the incident many, many times since, as well as Douglas’ relentless, goading, mocking and belittling sexual behavior,” he wrote.

Soon after Douglas allegedly asked Braudy to sign a confidentiality agreement and was let go later that year.

When his lawyer was approached about the story, Douglas made the decision to come forward with a denial before the story was printed. He originally referred to it as “a complete lie”.

“Coarse language or overheard private conversations with my friends that may have troubled her are a far cry from harassment,” he said. “Suggesting so does a true disservice to those who have actually endured sexual harassment and intimidation.”

Last week he added: “Maybe she is disgruntled her career didn’t go the way she hoped and she is holding this grudge.”

In response to his denial, Braudy said: “I believe this is part of the problem, as is his pretext of victimization. These are some reasons why so many women don’t come forward with their stories – Lord knows it’s taken 30 years and a movement for me to gather my courage.”