Marvel Comics' Stan Lee Accused Of Bad Behavior During Massage

CHICAGO, IL — A massage therapist is accusing legendary Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee with inappropriately grabbing her and fondling himself during appointments at a Chicago hotel last year. The allegations come as part of a lawsuit that was filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court against the 95-year-old co-creator of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, according to the Chicago Tribune.

A criminal complaint also was filed March 16 by Maria Carballo, the massge therapist, the report stated. The complaint, filed under Lee's legal name, Stanley Lieber, is currently being investigated, the report added.

Lee's lawyer, Jonathan Freund, denied the allegations and told the Tribune he thought it was "a shakedown."

"The guy is 95, I don’t think he would do that," he said.

According to the lawsuit — which is seeking more than $50,000, as well as punitive damages and attorney fees — Carballo was hired to give a two-hour massage to Lee, who was in Chicago for C2E2, the city's comics and pop culture convention, on April 21, 2017, at the McCormick Place Hyatt Regency, the report stated. After about a half hour into the massage, Carballo claims Lee began allegedly fondling himself, the report added.

Carballo says she ended the massage early when Lee began groaning and arranged to be paid for the shorter session, the report stated. The next day, she was called to work another massage appointment for Lee, which she had initially refused but end up accepting after her employer had allegedly told her they needed to keep VIP customers happy, the report added.

During the second massage, Carballo stopped the session when Lee allegedly began groaning again, the report stated. She then agreed to do a Shiatsu massage with her feet on Lee after he became angry, the report added.

This time, Lee allegedly touched his penis and scrotum to Carballo's foot, the report stated. That's whey she ended the session, collected $240 from Lee and left the hotel, the report added.

Carballo says she told her daughter and best friend about the incidents, the report stated. She did not immediately go to the police because she feared it would affect her job, the report added.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee at the Monday, April 23, premiere for "Avengers: Infinity War." (Photo by Charley Galla | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images for Disney)