Casey Affleck opens up on # MeToo

Casey takes responsibility for the ‘ unprofessional’ atmosphere on the set of 2010’ s I’m Still Here that led to civil lawsuits from two women

Los Angeles: Casey Affleck has been mostly absent from the public eye for the past year, but in the wake of the # MeToo and Time’s Up movements and with a new film coming out this fall, he is for the first time addressing lingering questions about earlier harassment allegations.

The 42- year- old actor, producer and director is taking responsibility for the “unprofessional” atmosphere on the set of 2010’ s I’m Still Here that led to civil lawsuits from two women who worked on the film. During Affleck's best actor campaign for Manchester By the Sea in 2016, the spotlight was turned back on the civil lawsuits filed by a cinematographer and a producer who worked on I’m Still Here for breach of contract. One of the women also sued for sexual harassment, and both described an uncomfortable atmosphere on the set of the unconventional mockumentary.

“It was an unprofessional environment ... the buck had to stop with me being one of the producers and I have to accept responsibility for that,” Affleck said of the making of I’m Still Here, which he produced and directed. “I contributed to that unprofessional environment and I tolerated that kind of behavior from other people and I wish that I hadn’t.”

He added: “I behaved in a way and allowed others to behave in a way that was really unprofessional. And I’m sorry.”

Although the lawsuits were settled out of court, Affleck’s name in 2016 and 2017 became associated with a long list of men who have abused power in Hollywood. While Affleck has addressed the lawsuits, he also has not spoken publicly since # MeToo and Time's Up overtook the culture ten months ago.

In that time, Affleck also opted out of presenting the best actress award at the Oscars — traditionally the responsibility of the previous year's best actor winner. Instead, Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence handed the trophy to Frances McDormand.

“I think it was the right thing to do just given everything that was going on in our culture at the moment,” Affleck said.