The latest Hollywood figure to be accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour is Morgan Freeman. Yesterday as per CNN reports, US A-list actor Morgan Freeman, 80, was allegedly accused by several woman for sexual misconduct. As a part of the investigation, 16 people spoke to CNN about the actor’s alleged behaviour.

“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy,” the actor said in a statement sent to The Associated Press by his publicist, Stan Rosenfield. “I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected, that was never my intent.” Morgan has been accused of staring at women’s breasts and asked women to twirl for him.

Earlier this year, Morgan was honoured by SAG-AFTRA with a lifetime achievement award. In a statement to The Associated Press, the organisation which represents actors, journalists and others called the allegations ‘compelling and devastating’. “Any accused person has the right to due process, but it is our starting point to believe that courageous voices who came forward to report incidents of harassment,” the statement read. “Given Mr. Freeman recently received on of our union’s most prestigious honours recognising his body of work, we are therefore reviewing what corrective actions may be warranted at this time.”

Eight women said they had experienced harassment or inappropriate behaviour and eight said they had witnessed such conduct. Seven of them described harassment or inappropriate behaviour at Revelations Entertainment, a company he founded with Lori McCreary. The CNN also reported accounts by three entertainment of inappropriate remarks they allege Freeman made at press junkets. This includes report’s co-author Chloe Melas who describes Freeman shaking her hand, not letting go while reportedly looking her up and down and saying more than once a variation of ‘I wish I was there’ and ‘You are ripe’.

Freeman won the 2005 Oscar for best supporting actor for ‘Million Dollar Baby’. He was nominated four other times including for ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and the ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, and is renowned for his prolific voiceover work.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 25, 2018 11:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).