Morgan Freeman responds to sexual harassment allegations: “I did not assault women.”

This is Freeman’s second statement since the actor was accused of misconduct on Thursday.

May 26, 2018
Morgan Freeman responds to sexual harassment allegations: “I did not assault women.” Kevin Winter / Getty Images  

Morgan Freeman has more to say after being recently accused of sexual harassment in a CNN report by eight women. The actors latest statement via his publicist Stan Rosenfield, includes another apology, but Freeman denies any claims of sexual assault.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Clearly I was not always coming across the way I intended. And that is why I apologized Thursday and will continue to apologize to anyone I might have upset, however unintentionally," Freeman said. "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."

The original CNN report included accusations from eight women who likened Freeman's behavior to that of a "creepy uncle." Following the report, Freeman released an initial apology on Thursday to, "Anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected."

ADVERTISEMENT

Read the statement below.

Freeman: “I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursday’s media reports. All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard. And we need to listen to them. But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor. I admit that I am someone who feels a need to try to make women—and men—feel appreciated and at ease around me. As a part of that, I would often try to joke with and compliment women, in what I thought was a light-hearted and humorous way. Clearly I was not always coming across the way I intended. And that is why I apologized Thursday and will continue to apologize to anyone I might have upset, however unintentionally. 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.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Morgan Freeman responds to sexual harassment allegations: “I did not assault women.”