David O. Russell, Nicholas Peloquin Questioned by Police After Alleged Transgender Groping Incident

According to a police report obtained by The Smoking Gun, Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell was involved in an allegedly inappropriate incident last week with Nicholas Peloquin, his 19-year-old pre-op transgender nephew. Peloquin, who is the son of Russell’s adoptive sister, told Florida police that the director acted untoward during a gym workout at the Embassy Suites in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Per the complaint, Peloquin says that Russell offered “to help…with ab exercises.” The exchange soon got physical, with Russell allegedly feeling both of Peloquin’s hormone-enhanced breasts (Peloquin has yet to undergo male-to-female reassignment surgery).

Russell apparently told the Florida deputy that Peloquin was “acting very provocative towards him” and asked if Russell “could help with ab exercises.” As for the touching, the director said that Peloquin asked him to feel his breasts.

This isn’t the first time the director has flirted with controversy. During the filming of ‘I Heart Huckabees,’ he famously went on a tirade against star Lily Tomlin. The expletive-filled rant (link NSFW), and his notoriously difficult reputation, kept him away from Hollywood for nearly six years; he returned to glory with ‘The Fighter’ in 2010, a film that scored Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. His next film, ‘The Silver Linings Playbook,’ arrives in theaters in November.

While the initial police call was for battery, no charges have been filed against Russell or Peloquin. For more on this bizarre incident, including a copy of the police report, head over to The Smoking Gun.

[Photo: Getty]