Morgan Freeman Issues a New Statement In the Wake Of Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior and Harassment: “It’s Not Right To Equate Horrific Incidents Of Sexual Assault With Misplaced Compliments of Humor”

Just days after CNN published an article, detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior and harassment at the hands of Morgan Freeman, the legendary actor has released his second statement in his defense.

In fact, in the new statement, he maintained his original message but also condemned the harsh accusations, saying, “It’s not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments of humor.”

On Friday, one of the authors and accusers in the CNN article took to television to double down on her accusations against Freeman. However, her claims were met with nationwide side-eyes, as many believed Freeman’s comments weren’t even directed at her, in the video evidence she provided.

Now, Freeman is opening up about the allegations, and the disappointment in having his longstanding life and career tarnished over jokes and comments.

Read his full statement below:

”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.

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.”

—Morgan Freeman