Goldie Hawn, the famous American actress, has revealed that she was sexually harassed by the renowned cartoonist Al Capp in 1964, during an audition at the age of 19.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Hawn shared details of the incident, saying, “I had a script and I was reading for this script…Next thing I know I’m in this rich guy’s apartment, and he’s famous and his name is Al Capp.”

Al Capp, who died in 1979, was a celebrated cartoonist and humorist, best known for his satirical comic strip, “Li’l Abner.”

Hawn went on to describe Capp’s demeanor as she met him for the first time, saying, “In he walks with his – I didn’t know he had a wooden leg, but he did – well, he walked like he had a wooden leg. He had this insidious grin. It was really ugly.”

Hawn then detailed how Capp proceeded to act inappropriately towards her, saying, “And he said, ‘I’ll be back in a minute, I’m just going to slip into something.’ And he came back in a robe. So now I am freaking out because I am recognizing that something is going on.”

She went on to explain how she tried to diffuse the situation, saying, “Now I’m thinking to myself, ‘I better let him know I’m a good girl, I better let him know that, whatever he’s thinking, it’s not going to happen.’”

Hawn tried to change the topic of conversation to her parents and her religious beliefs, hoping that Capp would realize that she had moral standards.

However, Capp continued to behave inappropriately, asking Hawn to walk towards him slowly with a “stupid” expression.

“‘Look stupid. Look like an imbecile,’” she claims he ordered before asking her to raise the hem of her skirt for a better look at her legs.

Hawn complied initially, lifting her skirt just above her knee.

However, when Capp demanded that she raise it higher, she refused.

“He said, ‘Come on over here and give me a kiss.’ I was shocked, but I expected something like that,” she continued.

“And so I went over to the couch because I wanted him to know that I wasn’t going to run out of the room, I was going to stay calm, and whatever.

“And he pulled over his…whatever that robe was…and his whole apparatus, his whole wiener, was literally lying there.”

At this point, Hawn made it clear that the audition would go no further, saying, “I looked at it and I said, ‘Oh, Mr. Capp, I’ll never get a job like this.’ And he said, ‘Well, I’ve had them all, and nothing will become of you.’ And I said ‘That’s okay, I’m a dancer anyway, but I’ll never get a job like this.’ And he said, ‘Well, you just go back and marry a Jewish dentist.’ And I said ‘Oh, I might.’ And I walked out.”

As Hawn left, she realized that the L train was not running, and that she needed to get to her dancing gig at the 1964 World’s Fair.

“He threw me $20 for a taxicab. It wasn’t a good day,” she added.

In 2017, Hawn spoke about the incident with People magazine, saying, “It was so scary.”

She also revealed that the experience had left her questioning whether she should continue in the entertainment industry, saying, “I didn’t know whether I should be a star or not. I didn’t know whether I wanted to continue.”

In the wake of Hawn’s revelations, the National Cartoonists Society has issued a statement expressing their “deep concern” about the allegations.

The organization said in a statement, “The NCS is deeply concerned about the allegations of sexual harassment made against Al Capp by Goldie Hawn…

“We stand with Ms. Hawn and all those who have been victimized by sexual harassment, and we are committed to working towards a safe and equitable workplace for all cartoonists and creators.”

Capp’s family has also responded to the allegations, saying, “We are saddened to hear of these allegations against Al Capp…We believe that these accusations are baseless and we reject them outright. Al Capp was a kind and generous man who was loved by his family, friends, and colleagues, and we will not allow his legacy to be tarnished by these unfounded claims.”

Despite the family’s denials, Hawn’s account of the incident is supported by several other women who have come forward to accuse Capp of sexual harassment.

In a statement to the New York Times, cartoonist Trina Robbins said, “It wasn’t just Goldie Hawn, it was other women, too. I heard about it from other women in the industry.”

Robbins went on to explain that Capp’s behavior was widely known within the industry, saying, “We all knew what he was like…It was just accepted. It was the way things were. You couldn’t say anything about it.”

The allegations against Capp are part of a wider reckoning within the entertainment industry, as women speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

Hawn herself has been a vocal advocate for the #MeToo movement, saying in a 2018 interview with CNN that she was “very, very proud” of the women who had come forward.

“I think that the #MeToo movement is a movement that had to happen,” she said. “It’s been going on for centuries, but it’s now time to speak out.”

Hawn’s own experience of sexual harassment highlights the need for continued efforts to combat sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry and beyond.

As she told Megyn Kelly, “I don’t think that people realize how much power they have and how much they can hurt people…It’s a very dangerous thing to do.”

In response to the allegations against Capp, the National Cartoonists Society has said that they will be reviewing their policies and procedures to ensure that they are “robust and effective in preventing and responding to all forms of harassment and discrimination.”

The organization has also urged anyone who has been the victim of sexual harassment to come forward, saying, “We encourage anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or any other form of discrimination in the cartooning industry to speak up and report it. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community.”

Hawn’s bravery in speaking out about her experience is a reminder of the importance of holding those who abuse their power accountable.

As she said to Megyn Kelly, “It’s very important that we speak out and that we continue to speak out, because that’s the only way things are going to change.”