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The accusations against the Oscar-winning actor
are the latest in a torrent against male actors, filmmakers and
agents that have roiled Hollywood since October 2017, leading in
some cases to resignations and the halting of projects.
On Friday, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was charged with rape
and other sex crimes.
Similar accusations have also engulfed men in U.S. politics and
business, and inspired a #MeToo social media movement by victims
sharing their stories of sexual harassment or abuse.
CNN reported on Thursday that it spoke with 16 people as part of
its investigation into the 80-year-old actor, some of whom also
alleged inappropriate behavior by Freeman at his production
company, Revelations Entertainment.
"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," Freeman said in a statement on Friday, a day after he
initially apologized.
"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," he added.
CNN said eight people told the network they were victims of what
some labeled harassment and others called inappropriate behavior
by Freeman. It said eight others told the network they witnessed
the actor's alleged misconduct.
CNN also said other sources denied having seen any questionable
behavior by the actor, and that those sources described him as
being professional on set and in the office.
Freeman said he is someone who feels a need to try to make women
and men feel appreciated and at ease around him. As part of
that, he would often try to joke with and compliment women, in
what he thought was a light-hearted and humorous way, he said.
"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," he said.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the
allegations.
Freeman, whose career has spanned 50 years and more than 100
movies, won a Oscar in 2005 as best supporting actor for his
role as a former boxer in "Million Dollar Baby."
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, Editing by Louise
Heavens)
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