‘Misplaced compliments’: Morgan Freeman on sexual harassment claims

He’s been one of Hollywood’s favourite actors for decades and Morgan Freeman is the latest celebrity to be accused of sexual assault.

Earlier this week, CNN ran a report where eight women alleged the Shawshank Redemption star sexually harassed them and made inappropriate comments on film sets. In the report, two women alleged the 80-year-old star touched them inappropriately, while a production assistant claimed the star repeatedly tried to lift her skirt. In addition to the eight women who claimed they had experienced harassment, a further eight people alleged they witnessed Freeman’s misconduct.

Freeman originally issued an apology after the report surfaced, noting he wasn’t someone who would “intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy”.

“I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent,” he said earlier this week, following the reports.

The star has now issued another apology and statement, maintaining his innocence and claiming his behaviour was taken out of context.

“I am devastated that 80 years of my life is now at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursday’s media reports,” he said in a statement shared by New York Times writer Sopan Deb on Twitter. “All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard. And we need to listen to them. But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humour.”

The Million Dollar Baby star said he always does his best to make everyone around him feel comfortable.

“I admit that I am someone who feels a need to try to make women – and men – feel appreciated and at ease around me,” he continued. “As part of that, I would often try to joke with and compliment women, in what I thought was a light-hearted and humorous way.”

The Oscar winner noted that his actions may have been misinterpreted.

“Clearly, I was not always coming across the way I intended,” he added. “And that is why I apologised Thursday and will continue to apologise to anyone I might have upset, however unintentionally.

“But I also want to be clear: I did not create unsafe work environments. I did not assault women. I did not offer employment or advancement in exchange for sex. Any suggestion I did so is completely false.”

https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/1000211609233580033

It is unclear if the allegations will have any impact on Freeman’s career or previous awards. Earlier this year, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) honoured the star with the Life Achievement Award.

Bill Cosby, who was found guilty of sexual assault last month, was expelled from the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Kevin Spacey has also been shunned by Hollywood after his sexual allegations came to light, while an array of other men have also faced severe backlash in the media.

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