Following on from yesterday's report by CNN regarding allegations concerning Morgan Freeman's behaviour on the set of several of his films and at his production company, the 80-year old actor has since put out a more thorough statement on the issue.
Freeman's initial statement was apologetic, however his statement issued almost twenty-four hours after the first one appears to be more pointed and defensive.
"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," the statement read.
"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.”
Currently, no criminal charges or legal actions have been brought against Freeman - however it's understood that Freeman is set to be replaced as the voice of Vancouver's public transport system. The actor's distinctive baritone voice was to be used for announcements aboard trains and buses in the Canadian city, but it's understood that the recent allegations made against him have caused the project to be cancelled.
You can read the full CNN report here.
