Actor Terry Crews has explained why he did not fight back against the man he says sexually assaulted him years ago, in emotional testimony before a US Senate committee.

The actor and former NFL player spoke out at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed legislation known as the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights.

Mr Crews – an outspoken feminist and supporter of the #metoo movement – testified in favour of the bill, citing his own experience.

The 49-year-old has publicly accused a high level Hollywood agent of groping him at a party in 2016. He has denied the allegations.

"The assault lasted only minutes, but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand, was that he held the power,” Mr Crews told the committee in his opening statement. “That he was in control.”

He added: "This is how toxic masculinity permeates culture."

Senator Dianne Feinstein later asked Mr Crews why he had not fought off his alleged assailant, noting that the actor was a “big, powerful man”. Mr Crews replied that his initial response was to become violent, but that he held back.

“Senator, as a black man in America, you only have a few shots at success,” he told Ms Feinstein. “You only have a few chances to make yourself a viable member of the community.”

He added: “I’m from Flint, Michigan. I have seen many, many young black men who were provoked into violence, and they were in prison, or they were killed. And they’re not here.”

Mr Crews said he left the party with his wife, who had coached him on how not to become violent when provoked. But when he tried to report the alleged assault to Mr Venit’s agency the next day, he said, nothing happened.

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“I was told, 'We're gonna do everything in our power. We are gonna handle this, Terry. You're right, it is unacceptable',” he said. “And then they disappeared.”

According to Variety, Crews filed a lawsuit against agent Adam Venit and employer William Morris Endeavours, who he accused of grabbing his genitals at the event.

The agent was suspended for 30 days in October last year, Deadline reported.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor spoke out regarding the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, which focuses on collecting and preserving rape kits.