Morgan Freeman lawyer demands CNN retraction

A lawyer for Morgan Freeman is demanding CNN issue a retraction for its report alleging inappropriate behaviour.

Robert M. Schwartz addressed a letter to Jeff Zucker, the president of CNN, which says the outlet has “defamed Mr. Freeman.”

“CNN has inflicted serious injury on his reputation and career,” he wrote in a letter.

“At a minimum, CNN immediately needs to issue a retraction and apologized to Mr. Freeman through the same channels, and with the same level of attention, that is used to unjustly attack him.”

He alleges that the report has already had “devastating consequences” for Freeman.

“Mr. Freeman is being viewed in the global court of public opinion as someone akin to notorious harassers and accused rapists, such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey,” the letter reads. “CNN had no justification for doing that.”

It comes after one accuser said CNN misrepresented her story.

Tyra Martin, an entertainment reporter on TV station WGN, said “I understand how for some that interaction might not be fun or easygoing, but it always felt like we were in on a joke.

“We were just exchanging like that.”

“Some misreporting got out that I was uncomfortable or that he had made sexual remarks to me every time and that’s not the case. I never said that.”

But CNN stands by its story.

“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 network says.

“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.”

Source: Yahoo, Orlando Sentinel