He has clarified his first apology
Morgan Freeman has released a second statement after a number of women came forward to accuse him of inappropriate behaviour and harassment on Thursday.
A total of 16 people were interviewed about allegations against the actor. Some claimed Freeman harassed them, while others said that they witnessed inappropriate behaviour.
In the aftermath of the allegations, the 80-year-old released a statement in which he apologised for any discomfort he had caused the women. But he has now released a second statement clarifying his apology and denying that he assaulted any women or created unsafe work environments.
Freeman’s full statement reads: “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.”
