Earlier this week, Morgan Freeman was accused of inappropriate behavior and harassment against at least eight women, including an entertainment reporter Chloe Melas.
According to CNN, Melas, who co-wrote the explosive article that detailed the allegations against Freeman, said she was subject to inappropriate behavior by Freeman at a press junket for “Going in Style.” In the article, Melas said Freeman made inappropriate remarks on video, and his actions were displayed in front of many at the junket, but nothing was done.
But now, in the wake of the allegations, the Blast has released a story errily similar to Melas’ experience. The only difference is, the woman involved was not offended.
In an audio recording obtained by The Blast, the actor can be heard making several comments to a female reporter about her appearance during a roundtable interview for “Ben Hur” in 2016. At the time, a reporter from the publication captured the audio for an article she was writing on the film, but now, in the wake of the allegations, the reporter is opening up about the incident.
According to The Blast, the incident occurred at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills after a bossy female reporter bullied her way to the front for the first question. However, things took a turn for the worse when the actor cut the woman off to comment on the appearance of Taylor Ferber, another reporter.
“Now that is what I could call….strategic,” Freeman said about the woman’s ripped jeans, to which she responded, ‘So you’re not a fan? You don’t have the same pair?”
“Have you lost your mind?” he asked, as everyone laughed, before he told the room that the exchange was a “private conversation.” As the interview continued, the two shared another exchange as Ferber attempted to question Freeman about the film. However, Freeman immediately cut her off to explain that he couldn’t hear her question, which prompted the reporter to respond jokingly, saying, ‘You can’t hear me? Are you distracted.”
Although The Blast reporter felt Freeman objectified Ferber, she said she “did not feel at all uncomfortable.’
“It was a totally innocent, hilarious, and a great personal moment that lightened the enviorment, which can often times be awkward or still,” she explained. “it wasn’t at all ‘creepy’ or too much, and felt like a comment my grandparents would make – they actually agreed when they watched the video, which they got a kick out of.”
“I did, however, feel extremely uncomfortable, and honestly a little discouraged, when I learned a fellow female colleague shamed my outfit behind my back afterward,” Ferber said of the bossy reporter who complained about her outfit after the interview.
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