Kate Beckinsale is in a battle with a trauma “healer.”
The 51-year-old actress and Nick Abramovic of the Bionic Method are in a dispute, after he claimed she did not pay a nearly $3,000 bill, and she claims he sexually assaulted her.
In August, Nick was contacted by her assistant to discuss scheduling sessions, with three booked over a two-week period for $2,700 total.
The sessions consist of an “intense” and “emotional” massage similar to those done during Reiki therapy, in which the healer uses psychosomatic practices to heal parts of the body that are in pain, via Page Six.
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Clients reportedly remain “completely clothed” during the sessions, as he says: “No one is getting naked, no one is getting undressed, there’s no oils.”
“I will touch people in non-invasive points; it’s all external. I’m not rubbing my hands up and down. It is very much a stretch therapy, sound therapy and breath-work. It’s very above board.”
When she walked into the Bionic Method for the first time on August 2, he claims he offered to leave a camera on during their session as people often like to watch the recording back to reflect on their experience.
Kate was dressed in yoga pants and a gym shirt, and allegedly opted out of that request, due to privacy concerns.
“He did not ever offer to record the session. That statement is not truthful,” her lawyer, Marty Singer, told Page Six.
He also claims that after the session he believed Kate was pleased with his services.
A text message Page Six reviewed shows Kate‘s assistant seemingly writing via text that she “really enjoyed the session.”
Nick claims the actress said: “‘You’re like Harry Potter. I would really like to promote you on my Instagram. I think we could do a party at my house instead of me having to come here and you could meet all my friends.’”
The healer says he didn’t realize she was “expecting free s–t” in return.
On August 7, they had their second session. An alleged text sent by the assistant on August 8 reviewed by Page Six shows the assistant booking the third and final appointment.
However, sources close to Kate claim the movie star did not go to her final session because he allegedly committed sexual assault and battery during the second session.
“’Somatic trauma therapist’ Nick Abramovic is well aware as to why his bill has not been paid,” a spokesperson told Page Six.
“He knows this because he received a letter from Kate Beckinsale’s lawyer Marty Singer. Kate is not able to discuss the matter because it is being investigated by the LAPD.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has since confirmed to Page Six that they are in the early stages of an investigation, and charges have been filed.
“We’re interested in hearing from all parties and welcome anyone who feels that they’ve been the victim of any sexual assault to let us know so that we can look into it,” a public information officer said in a statement.
Nick‘s attorney, George Shohet, said to the outlet: “We’re looking into a defamation case as this appears to be a retaliatory act after Mr. Abramovic demanded payment from Ms. Beckinsale.”
He denies ever touching her inappropriately, telling Page Six, “I just want to be clear: I did not assault her at all.”
“I categorically deny these allegations. In the five years since I’ve run Bionic, I have never had this type of complaint from any individual that I have treated. Over the years, I have treated hundreds of women without incident.”
He claims that the lawyer sent him a legal notice informing him of the criminal allegations only after Nick called out Kate on his social media, and that neither he, nor his employees nor clients have been contacted by police.
Kate‘s attorney adds: “The belief that my client would file a false police report and wind up having to pay more money for my legal services than pay this person is the most ridiculous concept I’ve ever heard in my career as an attorney.”
Nick claims he was also asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement, but Kate “never signed it until after [he] told her, ‘Hey, I’m not getting paid.’”
Page Six reviewed the alleged agreement that shows Nick signed it on August 12, the date the final session was supposed to take place.
She did not show up, claiming via her assistant to have been rushed to the hospital for a medical issue in texts provided to Page Six.
Kate‘s lawyer claims Nick was “harassing” the assistant and even offered to make a house call, and that he once asked his client to wear loose-fitting pants.
Nick said he was “trying to speak to the assistant to try and figure out what the hell is going on.”
He also said he only offered to go to Kate’s home because he believed at that time that he would still get paid and claims it was “her idea.” In a text reviewed by Page Six, he says he’s “open” to making an occasional house call “since she asked” him about it, and the clothing request is standard protocol.
Nick claims he was essentially ghosted until August 27 when he stated his NDA was “null and void” because it did not have Kate‘s signature, until he got a signed copy back “about two hours later” but still no acknowledgement of other emails and texts. The contract Page Six looked at shows her signature dated August 27.
“It’s irrelevant when she signed it,” her lawyer said. “Under the law, you don’t need to sign something on the same day. Abramovic agreed to an NDA and he breached the NDA. This shows that if people think you’re going to have confidential communication with this individual, don’t count on it.”
I’m not trying to defame Kate at all. It’s weird to me that this is happening. I’d like to think this is just a misunderstanding,” Nick added. For more on the ongoing dispute, head to Page Six.
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