30th May 2018: Unearthed Footage Shows Morgan Freeman Saying Sexually Suggestive Comments To Female Reporters
Days after Morgan Freeman was accused of inappropriate behaviour and harassment by right women, footage has been unearthed of the actor saying sexually suggestive comments to female reporters.
After CNN came forward with the women's allegations, and Freemen denied them, Entertainment Tonight went back into their archives to see if the Bruce Almighty actor was respectful to females on camera.
They found two interviews that show Freeman speaking suggestively to his interviewer.
One clip shows a 2016 interview with journalist Ashley Crossan, in it Freeman asks is she is married, once she responds he asks, 'Fool around with older guys? I'm just asking.'
When Crossnan leaves the actor says, 'Look at yourself' as he looks at her figure.
In another clip, from 2015, Freeman is being interviewed by activist, host and author Janet Mock. He says to Mock, 'I don't know how you all manage to do that all the time. You got a dress halfway between your knee and your hips, and you sit down right across from me and cross your legs.'
Since these clips have been brought to public attention, Mock has responded. She told Entertainment Tonight:
This interaction is an exhibition of the casual nature at which men in positions of power believe that everything belongs to them, including women’s bodies as they’re merely just trying to do their job.
For me, as a young woman of colour, who is a reporter and a fan of popular culture, I was deeply disappointed that someone who was seen as America's grandfather was susceptible to such disturbing behaviour and felt comfortable enough to do that as cameras were rolling, and that he could take claim of my body and look at it before even looking into my eyes.
25th May 2018: Morgan Freeman Addresses Harassment Claims From 8 Women
The following article contains allegations of sexual misconduct that some readers may find distressing.
Morgan Freeman has addressed accusations of inappropriate behaviour and harassment.
Eight former colleagues of the 80-year-old allege that the London Has Fallen actor behaved inappropriately toward them, and said they didn't come forward before over fear of losing their jobs.
Freeman told Digital Spy through his representative today (May 24): '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.'
A production assistant who worked with Freeman on the film Going In Style told CNN that he "kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear".
She added: "Alan [Arkin, actor] made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn't know what to say."
She also claims that Freeman made daily comments about her figure and what she was wearing.
CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas has claimed that Freeman made inappropriate comments toward her when she interviewed him for the 2017 film's press junket.
Melas, who was six months pregnant at the time, said she reported the incident to CNN's Human Resources department. CNN reported that when they reached out to Warner Bros over it, the company said they couldn't corroborate the story.
Another woman has also made allegations, after working on a recent film with him.
Discussing the movie's wrap party, she said: "He was looking at my breasts, and I told him, 'My eyes are up here.' Then we went to take a group photo and he pressed himself up against me. It was inappropriate."
A member of the production staff on 2013 film Now You See Me has also made allegations that she and her female assistant were both on the receiving end of inappropriate comments from the veteran actor.
She said: "He did comment on our bodies. 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."
Tyra Martin – a reporter at Chicago's WGN-TV – claimed that Freeman commented on her appearance on a number of occasions when she interviewed him, but that she "never felt uncomfortable".
Of one particular incident, she told CNN: "When I stood up, I pulled my skirt, part of my dress down, and he did say, 'Oh, don't pull it down now'. That gave me pause but I never felt uncomfortable."
Footage of Martin interviewing Freeman has also resurfaced online (the clip in question begins at 3:41):
Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of sexual violence. If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
Catherine was Digital Spy's News Editor between 2018 and 2024. Prior to that she worked at OK! Online, and has interviewed a slew of celebrities across her career in entertainment news, including Tom Hanks, Cheryl and Noel Fielding. Catherine also has specialist knowledge in all things drag, interviewing a huge portion of RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and getting her own drag makeover for Channel 4’s show Drag SOS. LinkedIn
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
