Morgan Freeman is hitting back hard after CNN published an article saying a number of women, including the co-author of the article, accuse him of improper behavior.
CNN stands by its reporting, while an industry ethics expert discussed the practice of running a piece written in part by one of the people lodging allegations. Meanwhile a woman quoted in the piece clarified that she “never felt uncomfortable or in danger” in Freeman’s presence.
“I’m sorry for anyone that’s had an unfortunate experience or feels harassed or assaulted. That wasn’t my experience with Morgan Freeman. The interviews were always fun for me,” said Tyra Martin, senior segment producer for Chicago television station WGCN, during an on-air discussion of the matter with her colleagues. “I respect the women who have been brave enough to say, ‘This thing happened to me and it was wrong.’ I support that. But it wasn’t me. It’s not me. It wasn’t my experience. To be grouped in it, I don’t feel offended, but just disappointed.”
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CNN said it talked to 16 people for the article, eight of whom said they had been subjected to harassment or inappropriate behavior, and eight who said they had witnessed it.
“CNN reached out to dozens more people who worked for or with Freeman. Some praised Freeman, saying they never witnessed any questionable behavior or that he was a consummate professional on set and in the office,” the article reads.
Numerous unnamed sources shared allegations with CNN accusing Freeman of trying to lift a woman’s skirt, staring at women in ways that made them uncomfortable or making“vulgar” comments. One source said he saw Freeman massage an intern’s shoulder.
Martin, the WGCN journalist, is the only accuser besides Chloe Melas, the article’s co-author, who is quoted by name.
“There was one instance that gave me pause,” Martin said during the on-air discussion, recapping what she told CNN. “It’s similar to some of the things that other people have said. I stood up from an interview and I had on a dress and you know how when you get up you kind of pull your skirt down. (Freeman) made a remark about, ‘Don’t pull it down.’ That was kind of like, errggh. But I never felt uncomfortable or in danger. I didn’t have a problem. You watch the video (of the interview), I’m laughing. It was fun.”
Here’s the clip of Martin discussing the matter:
Attorney Robert M. Schwartz, who represents Freeman, sent a 10-page letter to CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker blasting the article as “the product of malicious intent, falsehoods, slight-of-hand, an absence of editorial control, and journalistic malpractice.” The article has “defamed” Freeman and has the power to harm him professionally and financially, the letter said.
“In just the few days since CNN published the article on Mr. Freeman, it has traveled all the way around the world and back, millions of times. If CNN has any decency, or any allegiance to journalistic integrity, it will immediate retract the article and issue a public apology to Mr. Freeman,” reads the letter, a copy of which was provided to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In a statement, CNN says it stands by its work:
“The unfounded accusations made by Mr. Freeman’s lawyer are disappointing and are difficult to reconcile with Mr. Freeman’s own public statements in the aftermath of the story. CNN stands by its reporting and will respond forcefully to any attempt by Mr. Freeman or his representatives to intimidate us from covering this important public issue.”
Soon after the article ran, Freeman issued a statement via his publicist: "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."
He later issued a statement pushing back at being linked with notorious figures such as Harvey Weinstein:
“I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye,” it began. “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.”
Melas said she began investigating after experiencing what she considered to be improper behavior during an interview with Freeman and two co-stars, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin, ahead of the “Going In Style” movie launch.
“Right when I walked into the room, he began making sexually suggestive comments to me,” Melas said during an on-air discussion about the matter. “It was truly unlike anything I have ever experienced. One of those comments was caught on tape. In this tape, he says to me, ‘Boy do I wish I was there,’ while looking me up and down.”
At the time, Melas was six months pregnant. Caine had shared a story of a time when he incorrectly congratulated a woman who turned out not to be expecting. Freeman’s comment, according to his lawyer’s letter, was meant to be a quip in response to Caine’s faux pas, not a comment regarding Melas.
“Despite what should have been clear to Ms. Melas, she chose to interpret Michael Caine’s anecdote, and Mr. Freeman’s remark about it, as having something to do with her and as harassment,” the letter reads.
During the on-air discussion, Melas said the encounter was the inspiration for the story.
“The impetus for the story and this whole investigation was actually my own experience with Morgan Freeman,” she said.
A CNN publicist did not respond to the AJC’s request to interview Melas.
Lynn Walsh, immediate past president of the Society of Professional Journalists' national board and a member of the group's ethics committee, discussed the practice of running an investigative piece where the co-author is also one of the accusers.
“As journalists something we do every day is we look at, are there potential conflicts of interest?” she said. “In this article they do disclose one of the women making an accusation is an entertainment reporter and also helped author the piece. When someone reads that, potentially all that good reporting, all that solid reporting, can be put into question.”
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