Morgan Freeman Issues Second Statement Over Sexual Harassment Claims

CNN revealed last Thursday that they had spoken with eight people who say they were harassed on film sets or on promotional tours, and eight others who say they witnessed Freeman's alleged inappropriate behavior.
Freeman immediately offered a short apology. But he has now expanded on this statement by issuing a second apology in which he also tries to defend himself.
"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," he insisted.
He added: "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," Freeman said of the accusations.
"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."
CNN revealed that Freeman - whose distinguished acting career spans five decades - rubbed one source's lower back and tried lifting up her skirt while she was working set of 'Going In Style' back in 2015.
He is also accused of making inappropriate comments to numerous others, including CNN reporter, Chloe Melas.
Melas, who helped write the expose, said Freeman told her, "You are ripe,” during a press junket. Melas was pregnant at the time.
Other sources described instances where Freeman made inappropriate comments about women's appearances and stared at their bodies.
These sources told the American news channel that they did not file formal complaints out of fear of retaliation.
In his first statement last week, Morgan 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 apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected – that was never my intent."