At least eight women accuse Morgan Freeman of sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour
After a report by CNN revealed the claims, the Oscar winner apologised to anyone who felt ‘uncomfortable or disrespected’, saying that was ‘never my intent’
At least eight women have accused actor Morgan Freeman of inappropriate behaviour or harassment while working with them on film sets or at promotional events, CNN reported on Thursday.
CNN said it spoke with 16 people as part of its investigation into Freeman, some of whom also alleged sexual misconduct by Freeman at his production company, Revelations Entertainment.
In a statement, Freeman said he was sorry to anyone who had been made to feel uncomfortable or treated with disrespect.
“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 statement said. “I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent.”
CNN quoted a young production assistant who said Morgan harassed her over a period of months in the summer of 2015, while she was working on his bank heist comedy Going in Style.
She accuses Freeman of touching her repeatedly, resting his hand on her lower back or rubbing her lower back without permission, and frequently making comments about her appearance. The woman said Freeman, who turns 80 next week, continually tried to lift her skirt and kept asking if she was wearing underwear.