The post #MeToo age continues

When an avalanche starts, it’s hard to stop. But in this case it’s a very, very good thing. Morgan Freeman, Academy-Award winner, 80, and one of the most revered actors in cinema has done the same thing as so many of his colleagues, i.e: sexually harass women.

According to an investigation conducted by media outlet CNN, “16 people spoke about Freeman as part of this investigation, eight of whom said they were victims of what some called harassment and others called inappropriate behavior by Freeman. Eight said they witnessed Freeman’s alleged conduct. These 16 people together described a pattern of inappropriate behavior by Freeman on set, while promoting his movies and at his production company Revelations Entertainment.”

Noted CNN in the same piece: “Several other times during this investigation, when a CNN reporter contacted a person who had worked with Freeman to try to ask them if they had seen or been subjected to inappropriate behavior by an actor they had worked with – not initially even naming the actor they were asking about – the person would immediately tell them they knew exactly who the reporter had in mind: Morgan Freeman. Some of those people were sources for this investigation while others declined to comment further or did not want what they said used in this story.”

Describing an incident, one production assistant, who worked with Morgan in the summer of 2015 told the outlet, “Freeman ‘kept trying to lift up my skirt.” He never successfully lifted her skirt, she said, but kept trying. Eventually, she said, “Alan [Arkin] made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn’t know what to say.”

The story adds: “He subjected her to unwanted touching and comments about her figure and clothing on a near-daily basis. Freeman would rest his hand on her lower back or rub her lower back, she said.

Another woman told CNN: “Four people who worked in production capacities on movie sets with Freeman over the last ten years described him as repeatedly behaving in ways that made women feel uncomfortable at work.”

Another source told CNN that Morgan “sexually harassed her and her female assistant on numerous occasions by making comments about their bodies.”

As the sexual harassment allegations mounted up and the numbers of women who have spoken up about Morgan’s harassment and inappropriate behavior, CNN noted just how ‘Me Too’ movement has changed Hollywood behaviors.

“The pattern of behavior described by those who spoke with CNN shows another example of the systematic problems that exist in the entertainment industry. The allegations against Freeman are not about things that happened in private; they are about things that allegedly happened in public, in front of witnesses – even in front of cameras. Before #MeToo, many men in the industry could behave without fear of consequences, because many times when a powerful man did so, it was the victim who suffered repercussions.”

After this story broke, Morgan Freeman has apologized, “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.”

Consequences in the #MeToo age are necessary so such behavior is not tolerated anymore. Though it remains a difficult, complicated topic, it’s good to see immediate action being taken including the “The Screen Actors Guild determining what, if any, action will be necessary regarding its recent lifetime achievement award recipient Morgan Freeman.”

Similarly, credit card company Visa said in a statement that it is suspending its “marketing in which the actor is featured.”

–With information from CNN