'Star Trek' screenwriter Roberto accused of repeatedly 'raping,' 'hitting' wife
Roberto Orci, the screenwriter and producer known for his work on Star Trek and Transformers, has been accused of repeatedly physically and sexually assaulting his wife, actor Adele Heather Taylor. The allegations surfaced in a lawsuit, which is a countersuit to Orci's June claim that Taylor assaulted him with a taser and pepper spray. The lawsuit details years of abuse dating back to 2018 when Taylor allegedly fled from a taxi after Orci struck her three times in the face.
Orci characterized as a bipolar alcoholic in countersuit
The countersuit portrays Orci as a bipolar alcoholic who "seldom takes his medication" and frequently belittles Taylor with derogatory, sexist slurs. It includes instances of assault from May and June 2022 where Orci allegedly beat Taylor to the ground and raped her in their garden. During these incidents, he reportedly told her that he "can do whatever I want to you" and that "you enjoy being raped." The lawsuit states that these assaults left Taylor feeling traumatized and terrified.
Orci accused of using police to maintain control
The lawsuit alleges that Orci manipulated the legal system to maintain control over Taylor. In April 2020, he reportedly called the police on her under "false allegations that Adele had physically harmed him" when she was acting in self-defense. The documents claim that Orci used these incidents as an implicit threat, suggesting he could have Taylor arrested whenever he wanted, further exacerbating her fear and trauma.
Orci files for divorce and restraining order
In December 2022, Taylor recorded her final encounter with Orci before leaving him. During this incident, Orci allegedly told her that no one would believe her if she took action against his abuses, stating, "I can do whatever the f-k I want. You've been arrested twice. Like, you've got nothing on me." Following this event, Orci filed a restraining order against Taylor and initiated divorce proceedings.
Taylor accused Orci of reneging on financial agreement
Taylor's countersuit alleges that Orci, who is 15 years her senior, reneged on an agreement to divide their assets via a family trust. This was intended to "provide financial support and security for the rest of her life." Taylor was a young actor when they first met, with credits including a guest spot on The Blacklist in 2020. Orci's recent work includes co-creating Sleepy Hollow and Hawaii Five-O, which ended its 10-season run in April 2020.
Orci's lawyer denied the allegations and acknowledged alcoholism
In response to the allegations, Orci's lawyer, Daniel Paluch, has disputed the claims. Paluch stated via email that his client "denies the allegations and is looking forward to litigating the case in the appropriate forum, which is the court." In his lawsuit, Orci admitted to struggling with alcoholism for years and having been hospitalized multiple times for related conditions. He also accused Taylor of exploiting his weakened condition for financial gain.
