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Mythbusters host Adam Savage accused of repeatedly raping his sister as a child

Adam Savage.
Adam Savage. Photo credit: Getty Images

Warning: This article discusses sexual abuse.

Mythbusters host Adam Savage has been accused of sexually abusing by his sister when they were both young children.

Miranda Pacchiana filed a lawsuit in New York state against her brother, claiming he sexually assaulted her "repeatedly over the course of several years".

The alleged abuse took place between 1976 and 1979, according to a blog post. She says it started when she was just seven years-old and he was nine, when the siblings lived in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

"As a child, this experience shook my sense of safety and crushed my self-confidence. For decades afterward, I dealt with periods of depression and near-constant anxiety," she wrote.

"These symptoms interfered with all aspects of my life, stunting my career aspirations, and robbing me of countless simple pleasures. In my mid-twenties, I sought treatment for the abuse and so began a long, arduous process of working to address the emotional impact of my trauma."

The lawsuit, obtained by The New York Post, claims Savage would rape Pacchiana, force oral sex on her and force her to perform oral sex on him, along with other forms of sexual abuse.

Pacchiana said she last had contact with Savage over two decades ago, and at the time she called him out for his "callous attitude" about the alleged abuse and the "disregard for the damage he had caused".

She says he didn't acknowledge or show any compassion towards the accusations.

"While nothing can give back what Adam Savage took from me, I hope this lawsuit will also demonstrate to my fellow survivors that we do not deserve to carry the shame of sexual abuse and assault," Pacchiana wrote.

"The public needs to know that Adam Savage sexually abused me when I was a child, as set forth in the lawsuit that I have finally been able to bring after all of these years. As a survivor and advocate for victims, I am determined to shine a light on the truth."

Savage denied the allegations through a statement from his lawyer.

"While I hope that my sister gets the help she needs to find peace, this needs to end. For many years, she has relentlessly and falsely attacked me and other members of my family to anyone who will listen," he said, according to Variety.

"By spreading numerous untrue stories about us in pursuit of a financial bonanza, she has tortured our entire family and estranged herself from all of us.

"I will fight this groundless and offensive lawsuit and work to put this to rest once and for all."

Savage is best-known for hosting the popular TV series Mythbusters, which aims to debunk notable myths and urban legends. It was cancelled by network the Discovery Channel in 2016.

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