Morgan Freeman Demands Retraction

CNN is rebuffing Morgan Freeman‘s demand for it to retract its story featuring eight women who say the 80-year-old sexually harassed them.

“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,” the cable news network said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

• “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,” the network added.
• Earlier in the day, Freeman’s lawyer Robert M. Schwartz of Irell & Manella, emailed a 10-page letter to CNN head Jeff Zucker, hinting at a lawsuit.
• CNN interviewed 16 people for its report, half of whom were witnesses to the alleged behavior.
• Freeman has lost lucrative contracts with Visa and the Vancouver Transit System over the allegations and has spoken out saying he was devastated by the allegations.
• “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,” the cable news network said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.
• “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,” the network added.