In 10 page letter, a law firm representing Morgan Freeman is threatening legal action against CNN, calling for a retraction and an apology, citing saying she was mischaracterized and Melas’s description of her own experience with Freeman: (1/x) /F514eICE5Oīecause Morgan Freeman is clearly a public figure, a successful defamation claim against a media outlet would require more than a simple error. Schwartz, of Irell & Manella LLP, sent a letter to CNN, demanding a retraction of its May 24 story, and threatening a defamation lawsuit for what was called “malicious intent, falsehoods, slight-of-hand, an absence of editorial control, and journalistic malpractice.” Way to play the victim, Freeman’s attorney, Robert M. I just can’t believe that not a single person at or Day watched that video and didn’t think to tell her that Morgan Freeman was talking about Michael Caine and not her. Then letter even quotes viewers, who seemed to understand exactly what had been going on during the interview - just to underscore the point that CNN’s reporting was kind of lame: Freeman said ‘I wish I was there,’ any reasonable viewer would have known that the ‘there’ to which he was referring was the conversation in which Mr. Caine’s (and the woman’s) embarrassment that she was not pregnant. Caine had congratulated a woman on becoming pregnant, only to learn to Mr. Freeman was in fact responding to a story that Michael Caine had just told. “It is correct that, during the interview, Mr. Further, a letter sent to CNN Tuesday by Freeman’s attorney offers alleged context for the “wish I was there” statement that isn’t remotely inappropriate: Freeman was recorded saying, “boy, do I wish I was there,” but there was no photo evidence for any of that “ripe” talk. During interview in question, cameras had been rolling. Here’s the problem: there are concerns that Melas’ account is not that credible. Freeman reportedly said to Melas, “I wish I was there,” and, “you are ripe.” According to Melas, Freeman held on to her hand after a handshake while, “repeatedly looking her up and down,” as Freeman’s co-stars Alan Arkin and Michael Caine looked on.
On specific example of the harassment - and the core of Freeman’s defamation threat– was detailed by Melas, who said that when she’d interviewed Freeman at a press junket for the movie “Going in Style,” when she was six months pregnant. “I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected - that was never my intent.”
“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 statement reads. Shortly after the story broke, Freeman responded to the accusations in statement saying: Eight said they witnessed Freeman’s alleged conduct. According to the article, 16 people described a pattern of inappropriate behavior, eight reporting having been victims of sexual harassment. On May 24, CNN published an article authored by reporters Chloe Melas and An Phung, detailing the findings of an investigation conducted into the 80 year-old actor’s behavior. According to CNN and others, eight women have accused Freeman of sexual misconduct now, Freeman is threatening to sue CNN for defamation - and his case looks pretty strong.įirst, some background.
The Morgan Freeman episode of #MeToo is heating up, big time.