Freeman denies sexually assaulting women
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Morgan Freeman says he likes to compliment people to make them feel at ease around him but that he has never sexually assaulted women.
The Academy Award-winning actor is fighting back against claims of bad behavior made by multiple women in a CNN report this week.
He said in a statement late Friday that the report has devastated him and that “it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor.”
Following the report, Visa announced it was suspending all of its marketing that features the actor’s voice.
CNN’s story includes one movie production assistant who said Freeman unsuccessfully tried to lift her skirt.
Other women talked about unwanted touching on their backs and shoulders.
Mostly, Freeman’s accusers say he would comment about their bodies or clothes or make them uncomfortable by staring.
A male former employee of Freeman’s production company said the 80-year-old actor would behave like a “creepy uncle.”