Octogenarian Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman apologised yesterday after a report of multiple sexual harassment accusations, making the actor the latest high-profile figure to face allegations of misconduct in the #MeToo era.
Sixteen people – eight of whom say they were victims – described to CNN a range of troubling behaviour by Freeman on production sets or promotional tours.
The downfall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein in October last year triggered a US reckoning over sexual harassment and abuse that has toppled a litany of powerful men across a variety of sectors, including entertainment, politics and media.
The actor, who turns 81 next week, issued a quick apology after the news network published its report.
“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy,” Freeman said in a statement. “I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent.”
CNN quoted a young production assistant who said that Freeman harassed her over a period of months in the summer of 2015 while she was working on his bank heist comedy Going in Style.
Following one incident, actor Alan Arkin, one of Freeman’s co-stars in the film, “made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn’t know what to say”, the woman said.
A senior member of the production staff on Now You See Me (2013) – another bank heist film, this time featuring a team of illusionist thieves – also said that Freeman had acted inappropriately with her and her assistants.
Freeman won the best supporting actor Oscar in 2005 for boxing drama Million Dollar Baby and was nominated four other times for Academy Awards.
His other major films include The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, and Driving Miss Daisy, as well as several Batman movies.
With his deeply resonant voice, Freeman also did the voiceover for an award-winning documentary, March of the Penguins.
Weinstein, whose case triggered a greater willingness among victims to speak out against abuse, has been accused by more than 100 women of impropriety going back 40 years and ranging from sexual harassment to assault and rape.
He is being investigated by British and US police, but has not been charged with any crime.
He denies having non-consensual sex and is reportedly in treatment for sex addiction.
Other Hollywood figures who have been accused of sexual misconduct include actors Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman, and director/producer Brett Ratner.
Freeman: I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected u2013 that was never my intent.
