Morgan Freeman Denies Sexual Assault
Morgan Freeman issued a second statement addressing recent accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior and harassment by eight women. In his second apology in as many days, Freeman said his actions shouldn't be equated with accusations of sexual assault and abuse in the workplace that have befallen many of his male peers in the past year.
According to CNN, which originally reported the investigation into Freeman's alleged misbehavior, Freeman said he is "devastated" that 80 years of his life could be wiped out in the blink of an eye.
"All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard, and we need to listen to them," Freeman's statement reads. "But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor... But I also want to be clear: I did not create unsafe work environments. I did not assault women. I did not offer employment or advancement in exchange for sex. Any suggestion that I did so is completely false."
Freeman admits to making jokes in the workplace that were maybe inappropriate and could have been misconstrued. CNN reports that 16 people - eight victims and eight eye-witnesses - said they observed Freeman's alleged misconduct.
Some of those allegations include repeatedly acting in a way that made women on set uncomfortable. Other evidence of inappropriate behavior comes from a 2015 interview between Freeman and Janet Mock. Freeman told Mock, on camera, "you got a dress halfway between your knee and your hips, and you sit down right across from me and you cross your legs."
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