Alumnus, HGTV star Carter Oosterhouse accused of sexual misconduct
Former 2009 homecoming grand marshal Carter Oosterhouse is facing sexual misconduct allegations.
Star of HGTV shows "Carter Can" and "Trading Spaces," Oosterhouse has been accused by a makeup artist Kailey Kaminsky, who worked with him in 2008, of being coerced into offering him sexual favors.
The claims were first published by The Hollywood Reporter on Dec. 14. Kaminsky alleges Oosterhouse forced her to repeatedly perform oral sex on him on "10 to 15 occasions" in 2008 during production of "Carter Can" in order to keep her job.
Kaminsky said the misconduct drove her to be hospitalized due to depression and no longer works in the make-up industry. She cites the #MeToo movement as giving her the power to come out and "set the record straight about what happened," she told The Hollywood Reporter.
"(Oosterhouse) took away the joy that I got from doing makeup," Kaminsky said in the report. "I just had no confidence."
Oosterhouse acknowledges the sexual acts between he and Kaminsky, but maintains the relationship was "100 percent mutual and consensual," according to the same report.
"I had an intimate relationship with (Kaminsky) nine years ago," Oosterhouse told the magazine in December. "In no way did I ever feel, nor was it ever indicated to me, that (Kaminsky) was uncomfortable during our intimate relationship. I would have never done anything that I was not sure was mutually agreeable."
Despite this, Oosterhouse, a Traverse City native, has received repercussions for Kaminsky's allegations. On Dec. 15, The Grand Rapids Press reported the Lake Michigan Credit Union — which Oosterhouse has served as the face of for the past five years — has cut ties with the reality star.
LMCU Senior Vice President Don Bratt cited the company's "zero tolerance policy" toward sexual harassment as the company's reasoning behind the suspension. He noted further investigation into the issue would impact whether or not the credit union would continue their partnership.
A 2000 alumnus, Oosterhouse has been invited back to the university a number of times, most recently as a speaker at a Spring 2017 Commencement ceremony.
