Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman has apologised to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behaviour, after CNN reported that multiple women have accused the A-list actor of sexual harassment.
On Thursday, US time, CNN reported Freeman had been accused of inappropriate behavior on movie sets and in other professional settings.
“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy,” the actor, now 80, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press by his publicist.
Actor Morgan Freeman has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by multiple women.
“I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent.”
She alleged that Freeman subjected her to unwanted touching and comments on a near-daily basis on the film.
Several women alleged that he made frequent comments about their bodies, or would stare at them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable.
CNN spoke to 16 people about Freeman; eight said they had experienced harassment or inappropriate behaviour, and eight said they had witnessed such conduct. Seven of them described harassment or inappropriate behaviour at Revelations Entertainment, a company he co-founded with Lori McCreary.
The CNN report also cited accounts by three entertainment reporters of inappropriate remarks they allege Freeman made at press junkets, including the report’s co-author, Chloe Melas, who describes Freeman shaking her hand, “not letting go while repeatedly looking her up and down and saying more than once a variation of, ‘I wish I was there”‘ – and also “You are ripe.”
Freeman won the 2005 Oscar for best supporting actor for Million Dollar Baby.
He was nominated four other times, including for Driving Miss Daisy and The Shawshank Redemption, and is renowned for his prolific voiceover work.
