Freeman accused of harassment
Actor apologizes after women come forward with stories
Morgan Freeman, one of the most celebrated actors in the film industry, has been accused of sexual harassment by several women, according to a report by CNN on Thursday. The accusations ranged from unwanted touching to sexually suggestive comments — on movie sets, in office environments and during meetings with the news media.
One production assistant told CNN that she had endured several months of harassment while working on the set of Going in Style, a film released last year starring Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine. She said that on one occasion Freeman had tried to lift up her skirt until Arkin intervened. A woman described as a senior member of the production staff of Now You See Me, a 2013 movie, said Freeman would routinely comment on her physical appearance and that of her assistant.
Three reporters said Freeman made inappropriate comments to them during publicity events to promote coming films. One reporter, Chloe Melas of CNN, said that during an interview last year for Going in Style, when she was six months preg- nant, Freeman looked her up and down and told her, “You are ripe.” A camera caught Freeman saying, “Boy, do I wish I was there,” directed toward Melas. CNN aired the video with the remark on Thursday.
“Right when I walked into the room, he began to make sexually suggestive comments to me,” said Melas, one of the authors of the CNN report, on air Thursday. “As an entertainment reporter for over a decade, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
Melas then began looking for other women who had had similar experiences. An article on CNN’s website said the network had spoken with 16 people, eight of whom accused Freeman of inappropriate behaviour.
In a statement after the article was published, Freeman, 80, said: “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.”
The behaviour also took place at Revelations Entertainment, the production company Freeman founded along with producer Lori McCreary two de- cades ago, and where staff members described the work environment as toxic for women. According to CNN, one manager said Freeman would “come over to my desk to say hi, and he’d just stand there and stare at me. He would stare at my breasts.” McCreary, who is co-president of the Producers Guild of America, did not respond to a request for comment.
Most of the women spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity and said they had not complained about Freeman’s behaviour because they feared for their jobs. Melas reported her own experience to CNN’s human resources department, which in turn brought it to the attention of Warner Bros., which produced and distributed the film and, like CNN, is a division of Time Warner Inc.
According to CNN, Warner Bros. told Melas that it could not corroborate her account because other than the comment caught on camera, it could not find Warner employees who had witnessed the other inappropriate remarks she said Freeman had made. Warner Bros. did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The Screen Actors Guild presented Freeman with its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at January’s annual SAG Awards. The organization is now considering revoking it.