'X-Men' director calls sex abuse suit a shakedown

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The director of the upcoming "X-Men" film is calling a lawsuit accusing him of raping an aspiring model and actor in 1999 a shakedown.

Bryan Singer wrote in a statement released Thursday that he is avoiding promotional events for his upcoming film "X-Men: Days for Future Past" to avoid distracting from the movie.

His statement comes a week after he was sued by Michael Egan III in Hawaii in a case accusing the director of sexually abusing Egan in that state when he was 17 years old.

Singer's attorney has denied the director was in Hawaii when the alleged abuse occurred.

The director's statement says he expects the allegations will be revealed to be a "sick, twisted shakedown."

An email sent to Egan's attorney Jeff Herman was not immediately returned.