Following reports of sexual harassment by eight women, Morgan Freeman released the following statement via his publicist on Friday evening.
“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.”
In other updates from the #Metoo movement, Harvey Weinstein has been charged with rape after handing himself into NYPD.
If you have been sexually assaulted, there are resources to help you. Donate to Rape Crisis here (UK) or RAINN here (U.S.).
