During her emotional testimony in court, actress Lena Drosaki recounted how Petro Philippidis subjected her to persistent sexual harassment. She described receiving explicit messages and phone calls from Philippidis during which he would masturbate while speaking to her. According to Drosaki, this went on for weeks, leaving her feeling violated and intimidated. In one instance, she recalled encountering Philippidis outside a theater where she was taking exams for a position at the Ministry. He allegedly told her, ‘Either you sit with me or you won’t pass.’ Despite being on stage during the audition, Philippidis entered the room, greeted the panel warmly, and later gestured dismissively toward her as if implying that he could use his connections to ensure she wouldn’t succeed.
Drosaki further detailed how she feared working with Philippidis after their initial encounter and tried to avoid collaborating with him multiple times. However, circumstances eventually led her to work under his direction in a production helmed by renowned director Katerina Dandoulatkou. During rehearsals, Philippidis reportedly behaved kindly toward her but also made several derogatory comments, including threatening to send her back to Kavala, mocking her, and creating an uncomfortable environment.
The situation escalated when Philippidis became upset about Drosaki socializing with another actor off-set. After a tense rehearsal, he threatened her career, prompting her to demand respect. When tensions boiled over, the rehearsal halted briefly before resuming the next day. Eventually, three actors confronted Dandoulatkou about continuing to work with Philippidis, leading to his departure from the project.
Throughout her testimony, Drosaki emphasized the psychological toll of these experiences, highlighting the power dynamics within the entertainment industry that often leave younger performers vulnerable to exploitation.