Multiple Women Have Accused Morgan Freeman Of Sexual Misconduct

Eight women have come forward and accused actor Morgan Freeman of sexual harassment.

In an explosive report published by CNN, Freeman’s accusers claim he touched them without their consent and made inappropriate comments about their bodies. These incidents allegedly took place over a number of years on the sets of Freeman’s films, at his production company Revelations Entertainment, and at press junkets.

One woman, who worked as a production assistant on Going in Style in 2015, told CNN the actor subjected her to unwanted touching and verbal harassment on a near-daily basis. In one incident, she says Freeman “kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear”. Eventually she says Freeman’s co-star Alan Arkin “made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn’t know what to say”.

Another woman, a senior member of the production staff on the 2013 film Now You See Me, says Freeman would regularly make inappropriate comments about her appearance, as well as the appearance of her female assistants.

“We knew that if he was coming by … not to wear any top that would show our breasts, not to wear anything that would show our bottoms, meaning not wearing clothes that [were] fitted,” she told CNN.

CNN spoke to 16 people for their report, eight of whom say they witnessed Freeman’s alleged misconduct. CNN reporter Chloe Melas, who co-wrote the report, says that she too was subjected to harassment by the actor during a press interview for Going in Style. It was her experience with Freeman that ultimately sparked the investigation into his alleged behaviour.

Former employees at Revelations Entertainment described a “toxic” work environment, with six former staffers saying they witnessed Freeman behaving inappropriately. According to one woman, Freeman approached her on the set of documentary series Through the Wormhole, “looked me up and down” and then asked her “how do you feel about sexual harassment?”

In a statement, Freeman said “anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent”.

Freeman is but the latest in a long list of powerful men in the entertainment industry to face allegations of sexual misconduct in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

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