Legendary Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman has denied claims of s**ual harassment made against him by eight women, stating that he did not create an unsafe work environment and did not assault women.

In a statement released through his publicist Stan Rosenfield on Friday, Freeman said, “I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursday’s media reports.”

Freeman expressed support for victims of harassment and assault, saying, “All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard.

And we need to listen to them.

But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of s**ual assault with misplaced compliments or humour.”

He admitted to making jokes and giving compliments to men and women, but acknowledged that he may not always have come across the way he intended.

The Oscar-winning actor said that he apologised on Thursday and will continue to do so to anyone he may have upset, however unintentionally.

However, Freeman was also clear that he did not create unsafe work environments, assault women or offer employment or advancement in exchange for s**.

He stated that any suggestion that he did so is completely false.

A report by CNN quoted multiple women, including journalists, describing troubling incidents throughout Freeman’s nearly five-decade-long career.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is now in the process of determining if any action will be necessary regarding its lifetime achievement award recipient, following the allegations.

Freeman’s statement follows numerous high-profile cases in which prominent figures in entertainment, politics and other industries have been accused of s**ual misconduct.

The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017, has encouraged many more people to speak out about their experiences of harassment and abuse.

In response to Freeman’s statement, some have criticised his use of the term “misplaced compliments” as minimising the severity of the accusations made against him.

Others have argued that it is important to distinguish between different types of behaviour and not conflate them.

The allegations against Freeman have sparked debate about how best to address s**ual harassment in the workplace and ensure that victims are taken seriously.

Some have called for greater accountability and transparency, while others have emphasised the importance of education and awareness-raising.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen what impact the accusations will have on Freeman’s career and reputation.

However, the controversy has once again highlighted the pervasive nature of s**ual harassment and the need for continued efforts to combat it.