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But this afternoon, she finally had the opportunity to address these smears.
Im very disappointed that were here today discussing a plea deal, she said.
I want to talk about what happened to me.
I want to talk about the aftermath of that.
No, absolutely not, Judge!
attorney Frank Rothman boomed.
(Rothman would interrupt the victim several more times before the proceedings ended.)
When I saw him, I was immediately super-excited.
I recognized him from one of my favorite childhood films,Snow Dogs.
I was mortified and, quite honestly, just frozen and shocked from that.
As the woman described this part of her ordeal, Rothman and Gooding kept whispering to each other.
Youre a little distracting, she said, imploring them to stay quiet.
If you could, kindly.
After she concluded, Rothman once again picked at her words.
The comment capped off an already bizarre proceeding.
Goodings guilty plea was made for forcibly kissing a woman at a nightclub in September 2018.
These two women are not included in the charge he copped to.
I kissed the waitress on her lips, Gooding said in admitting his crime.
Was that without her permission or authority?
To say Gooding lucked out is an understatement.
After the woman came forward about Gooding groping her breast in June 2019, his legal woes snowballed.
During an August 2020 court proceeding, prosecutorssaid30 women had made allegations against him.
In total, Gooding would facesix misdemeanor counts.
(This punch in of evidence was key to securing Harvey Weinsteins conviction.)
Gooding, they said, has been in counseling since September 2019.
Under the deal, he must continue in treatment for the next six months.
Gooding did directly address his victims after seemingly becoming annoyed about his lawyer speaking on his behalf.
Gooding still faces acivil suitin Manhattan federal court, where he is accused of rape.
He has previously denied this allegation.
I am a celebrity figure, Gooding stated in court.
I come into contact with people.
I never want them to feel slighted or uncomfortable in any way.
