Morgan Freeman, whom eight women recently accused of sexual harassment, is also being accused of hitting on entertainment reporters — but not all of them are mad about it.
While promoting “Ben-Hur” at a press junket in 2016, Freeman, 80, can be heard commenting on reporter Taylor Ferber’s appearance and ripped jeans in audio obtained by The Blast.
Freeman called the holes in her pants “strategic,” then joked that the exchange was a “private conversation.” When Ferber spoke with him later, he implied that he was distracted by her attire.
Ferber laughed off the incident, however, and told The Blast that she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, even recording a video with Freeman joking about her sartorial choices.
“It was a totally innocent, hilarious, and a great personal moment that lightened the environment, which can oftentimes be awkward or stiff,” Ferber said. “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.”
Chloe Melas, one of the accusers in CNN’s original report on Freeman’s alleged misconduct, presented footage of the Oscar winner making a comment to her about her pregnancy at a “Going In Style” press conference in 2015.
In the clip, Freeman, flanked by co-stars Alan Arkin and Michael Caine, tells Melas of her pregnancy, “I wish I was there.”
Melas, 31, also showed footage of Freeman making suggestive comments to WGN-TV reporter Tyra Martin, telling her, “I get to look at you and drool” and reminding her that he’s single.
Despite Melas’ allegation that Freeman was behaving inappropriately, Martin insisted she was always “in on the joke” and never felt uncomfortable except for one instance, in which Freeman allegedly told Martin not to pull down her skirt when she stood up to leave an interview — and so far, video footage of that incident has not been released.
Freeman was accused of inappropriately touching a young production assistant on the set of “Going In Style” without her consent, as well as of trying repeatedly to lift her skirt; another woman said he frequently commented on women’s bodies while filming “Now You See Me” in 2012.
Freeman previously told Page Six in a statement, “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.”