Eight women have come forward to accuse 80-year-old actor Morgan Freeman of sexual harassment. In an investigation carried out by CNN, 16 people spoke out about the actor’s behaviour which detailed instances of inappropriate behaviour, eight witnesses and eight claiming to be victims.
A young production assistant who worked on the set of his film Going in Style accused Freeman of touching her without permission for several months, detailing instances of having Freeman “resting his hand on her lower back or rubbing her lower back, and frequently making comments about her figure and clothing” adding, that Freeman “kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear.”
It was also detailed that fellow actor Alan Arkin allegedly “told him to stop”, after which Freeman became increasingly uncomfortable and “didn’t know what to say”.
A member of the production staff for the film Now You See Me said Freeman “did comment on our bodies. … We knew that if he was coming by … not to wear any top that would show our breasts, not to wear anything that would show our bottoms, meaning not wearing clothes that [were] fitted.”
Freeman has responded to the allegations, saying in a statement issued to the Hollywood Reporter,
“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent.”
CNN’s investigation came about after reporter Chloe Melas experienced Freeman’s inappropriate behaviour first hand whilst doing press for Going in Style.
Melas, who was six-months pregnant at the time, said that Freeman “shook her hand and repeated a variation of I wish I was there.” She also said he muttered “You are ripe” to her.
