News

Dustin Hoffman and John Oliver get into heated spat over seedy sex harassment claims: ‘You weren’t there’

December 5, 2017 | | Print Article

HBO host John Oliver slammed actor Dustin Hoffman for not saying more to address the seedy sexual harassment allegations against him.

“You’ve made one statement in print. Does that feel like enough to you?” Oliver asked Hoffman, who apologized last month for groping a 17-year-old production assistant in 1985.

Hoffman made the remarks during a panel discussion in New York to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his film “Wag the Dog.”

“First of all, it didn’t happen the way she reported it,” the Oscar winner said. Oliver fired back by blasting what he considered Hoffman’s equivocation.

“It’s that part of the response to this stuff that pisses me off!” Oliver said. “It is reflective of who you were. You’ve given no evidence to show that it didn’t happen. There was a period of time when you were creeping around women. It feels like a cop-out to say, ‘Well, this isn’t me.’ Do you understand how that feels like a dismissal?”

Hoffman defensively replied: “You weren’t there.” Oliver shot back: “I’m glad.”

dustin hoffman john oliver
John Oliver confronted Dustin Hoffman about claims he had harassed a teen. (Image: screenshots)

The controversy stems from accusations levied by author Anna Graham Hunter, who claims Hoffman sexually harassed and groped her when she was a 17-year-old production assistant on the set of the 1985 TV movie “Death of a Salesman.”

“He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my ass, he talked about sex to me and in front of me,” Hoffman recounted in the Hollywood Reporter.

Hoffman continued: “One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time. Then he said, ‘I’ll have a hard-boiled egg … and a soft-boiled clitoris.’ His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried.”

‘X-Men’ director sued for raping 17-year-old boy: Second time he’s sued for teen rape

Last month, Hoffman issued a statement apologizing for his behavior: “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”

Since then, Hoffman, 80, has blamed “the atmosphere” of the 1980s for his actions, suggesting sexual harassment was more accepted back then. And that’s what angered Oliver.

“It doesn’t feel self-reflective in the way it seems the incident demands,” Oliver said.

The Harvey Weinstein scandal opened the floodgates on the rampant sexual harassment in show business and the media. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Hoffman got defensive, saying the British comedian “indicted” him. “You have indicted me,” he said. “That’s ‘not innocent until proven guilty.’”

Oliver jabbed back: “I get no pleasure from this conversation. But you and I are not the victims here.”

The Dustin Hoffman sexual harassment scandal is the latest sordid incident spotlighting the pervasive sexual abuse in Hollywood and the media.

Last week, NBC fired “Today” show anchor Matt Lauer amid multiple accusations that he harassed, groped and abused female staffers. One alleged victim even accused Lauer of having sex with her until she passed out.

https://twitter.com/AIIAmericanGirI/status/936219424201367553

In October 2017, NBC News reporter Ronan Farrow said NBC refused to run his story about accused rapist Harvey Weinstein even though he had audio tape of the film mogul harassing a woman.

Petty Trevor Noah jokes that Trump wears dentures: Never mocked fainting Hillary

When asked why NBC refused to run his story, Farrow shrugged: “You’d have to ask NBC.”

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

$10
$15
$25
$50
Other
$
Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Samantha Chang
Latest posts by Samantha Chang (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles