The Oscar-winning actress tells a court in Park City, Utah, that she was “extremely upset” about the incident and had yelled at retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, whom she held responsible for the collision.
Gwyneth Paltrow asserted that she was the “victim” of a collision with a retired optometrist while skiing at a Utah resort.
The Oscar-winning actress was testifying in a civil case brought by Terry Sanderson, who is suing her for $300,000 (£245,000) over the 2016 incident at Deer Valley.
Mr. Sanderson, 76, claims that he sustained multiple fractured ribs, a severe concussion, and mental and physical injuries after Paltrow “slammed” into him on the slopes.
However, Paltrow, age fifty, is countersuing for a symbolic amount of one dollar, alleging that Mr. Sanderson collided with her.
Paltrow stated in court on Friday that she initially believed she was being sexually assaulted during the collision because she felt “a body pressing against me” and heard “a strange grunting sound.
She acknowledged feeling “extremely distressed” about the incident and yelled, “You skied directly into my f back!” at Mr. Sanderson.
Paltrow testified on the fourth day of the trial, having been present in court daily since Tuesday.
Paltrow, who described herself as an “intermediate” skier who was “familiar” with the laws of skiing, denied engaging in “risky behavior” on the slopes and stated repeatedly that Mr. Sanderson had skied into her from behind.
“Initially, I was confused and unsure of what was happening,” she said.
“It is a very unusual occurrence on a ski slope. I paused, and a couple of seconds later, I became extremely angry.
She added, “I wondered if this was a practical joke.” Is someone doing something perverted? My mind was racing as I attempted to comprehend what was occurring.”
Ms. Van Orman, the attorney for Mr. Sanderson, attempted to have Ms. Paltrow reconstruct the sequence of events in the courtroom but was unable to do so.
Paltrow stated, “When I was skiing, two skis came between my skis and separated my legs.
“Thereafter, I felt a body pressing against me.”
“Was he squeezing or pushing?” Ms. Van Orman inquired. What led you to believe that it was a sexual assault?
Paltrow responded, “It was a fleeting thought that crossed my mind.”
“There was a peculiar grunting sound and a body behind me, so I was attempting to comprehend what was happening.
When you’re in a mishap, your mind isn’t on the perpetrator.
Mr. Sanderson struck me, and that is the absolute truth.”
Later, during cross-examination by her attorney Stephen Owens, Paltrow expressed “extreme regret” for Mr. Sanderson.
“I truly feel sorry for him,” she stated.
“He seems to have had a very difficult life. But I did not cause the accident, so I cannot be held responsible for what happened to him afterward.”
