CNN is sticking to their guns, issuing a statement in response to Morgan Freeman’s request to retract a recent report where several women accused the Oscar-winner of various levels of sexual misconduct.
A spokesperson for CNN shared the following statement in regards to Freeman’s accusations of inaccurate reporting:
“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.”
After suffering major consequences mere days after the initial CNN report broke, Freeman is demanding the news organization retract their claims, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In a 10-page letter addressed to Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, Freeman’s lawyer claims the story has defamed and “inflicted serious injury” on his career and reputation.
“At a minimum, CNN immediately needs to issue a retraction and apologize to Mr. Freeman through the same channels, and with the same level of attention, that it used to unjustly attack him on May 24,” reads the letter from attorney Robert M. Schwartz.
Freeman has released two apologies following the report, the first below.
“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.”
The actor gave a more lengthy apology this weekend.
“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
