'Gossip Girl' star accused of raping American actress

After a wave of women in the entertainment industry have spoken out over sexual assaults, Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick has now been accused of raping American actress, Kristina Cohen.

Cohen alleged in a Facebook post that Westwick - who's best known for playing Chuck Bass - raped her three years ago while she was a guest at his Hollywood home.

Describing the experience, she claimed Westwick insisted she stay in the guest bedroom to have a nap as she felt tired.

"So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body," Kristina wrote in her post.

"I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to f**k me. I was paralysed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me."

Cohen's friend, Blaise Godbe Lipman, also spoke out about the allegations.

“I’ve known her since 2009. We were teen actors,” he said.

“She came over to my home the following morning and told me everything. She was in a state of shock. It was without a doubt a rape.”

The claim is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Westwick has taken to social media to deny the allegations saying: “I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.”