Morgan Freeman’s promotions for Vancouver transit cut short

VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver’s transit authority is pressing pause on a promotional campaign featuring Morgan Freeman following a report detailing allegations of misconduct against the actor.

TransLink says in a statement that it has decided to pause public announcements voiced by Freeman that had been set to play in parts of the transit system as part of a Visa Canada ad campaign.

CNN reports that eight women have accused Freeman of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment on movie sets and other professional settings. The news outlet spoke to eight other people who say they witnessed such conduct.

Freeman issued a statement through his publicist following Thursday’s report in which he apologized to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behaviour.

TransLink says it is consulting with Visa Canada about the Freeman-voiced announcements intended to promote the transit system’s new “tapto-pay” feature. Visa Canada could not immediately be reached for comment.

Freeman narrated a series of online ads posted on the credit card company’s YouTube page introducing riders to the new “tap-to-pay” feature, sharing local trivia and reminding riders about transit etiquette.

“Did you know that California rolls were invented in Vancouver?” he says in one video. “If you’re off to the latest sushi spot, know that you can now tap your Visa to go anywhere TransLink takes you.”

The CNN report includes one woman who says the actor repeatedly tried to lift up her skirt, and asked if she was wearing underwear.

In that incident, after Freeman kept trying to lift her skirt, Freeman’s co-star Alan Arkin “made a comment telling him to stop,” she said.

“Morgan got freaked out and didn’t know what to say.”

Several women also say he made frequent comments about their bodies. CNN spoke to 16 people about Freeman.

Freeman issued a statement through his publicist saying that he never intended to make anyone feel uneasy, and apologizes to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected.

Freeman won the 2005 Oscar for best supporting actor for Million Dollar Baby.

Actor Morgan Freeman is apologizing after CNN reported that multiple women have accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour on movie sets and in other professional settings.