Aidan Romain, a former water polo player at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, has filed a lawsuit detailing years of alleged racist harassment and s*xual assault by former teammate Lucca van der Woude. Romain, now living in Barcelona, claims the abuse occurred from 2022 to 2024.

Details of the Allegations

The 54-page lawsuit outlines a pattern of disturbing behavior. Romain alleges van der Woude subjected him to racial slurs, physical intimidation, and s*xual assault. The complaint further alleges that Romain’s white teammates openly displayed racist behavior, using slurs and making jokes about the harassment in front of school staff.

Physical and Verbal Abuse

According to the lawsuit, van der Woude and another teammate allegedly physically abused Romain, whipping him with exercise bands while referencing s*avery. Romain asserts that van der Woude constantly dehumanized him throughout their time on the water polo team.

School's Alleged Failure to Intervene

A central claim of the lawsuit is that Harvard-Westlake staff and the water polo coach failed to adequately address multiple reports of the harassment. Romain alleges the staff did not take the matter seriously and failed to intervene despite being informed of the discriminatory behavior.

Accused's Whereabouts & School's Response

Lucca van der Woude is reportedly in hiding following the accusations. His mother, Nilda van der Woude, who served as the team’s logistics coordinator, stated he remains in the area. Harvard-Westlake School has disputed many of the allegations, stating they “unequivocally dispute many of these allegations that mischaracterize facts and the school’s actions.”

Background on Harvard-Westlake

Harvard-Westlake School is a highly selective, elite private school with a history of attracting high-profile students. The case has sparked scrutiny regarding the school’s environment and its handling of reported incidents of racism and harassment.