Deneuve says sorry for her sex pest gaffe

CATHERINE Deneuve has apologised to sexual assault victims after condemning the #MeToo antiharassment campaign as a ‘witchhunt’.

The French actress, 74, was one of 100 women to sign an open letter last week denouncing what they described as the ‘puritanism’ that has emerged since the Harvey Weinstein allegations. In the aftermath, women across the world began using the hashtag #MeToo to share stories of sexism and abuse on social media. The letter, published in Le Monde newspaper, was met with widespread criticism.

Writing for Liberation, Miss Deneuve, pictured, said she apologised ‘ to all women victims of hideous acts who might have felt assaulted by the letter’. However, she maintained it had ‘never said anything positive about harassment’ and defended her view that men are becoming the victims of ‘media lynchings’.