Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman issued a public apology on Thursday for making women feel “uneasy” after a report of multiple sexual harassment accusations.
A report says, sixteen individuals have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and “inappropriate behavior” against the actor. Eight women claim to be the victims of Freeman’s behavior, while the rest have witnessed various incidents.
“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy,” Freeman said in a statement. “I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected that was never my intent”.
One woman, described only as a “young assistant” working on Going In Style in 2015, claimed the 80-year-old “subjected her to unwanted touching and comments about her figure and clothing on a near-daily basis.” She described one incident in which Freeman allegedly “kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear”.
Apart from her a female former employee said when she met Freeman for the first time on the set of “Through the Wormhole,” the actor looked her “up and down” before asking, “How do you feel about sexual harassment?”
He is also accused of staring at women’s breasts, asking a woman how she felt about sexual harassment and asking women to twirl for him.
The accusations against Freeman are the latest to be leveled against powerful men in entertainment, news media, and publishing since Harvey Weinstein was first toppled last fall in expose by media.
> Shatabdi Sarker Poushi
