Morgan Freeman accused of lifting skirts, telling woman “you are so ripe”

Eight women have accused Morgan Freeman of uninvited touching and repeated comments about their figures and clothing, including lifting up one woman’s skirt to ask if she was wearing underwear, according to a new report from CNN.

The investigation cites 16 sources — eight accusers and eight witnesses — to lay out a detailed pattern of harassing behavior from Freeman, an iconic actor who’s won an Oscar and been nominated for four more. The CNN report asserts that some sources named Morgan Freeman before journalists even mentioned whom they were investigating.

One woman who worked on the film “Going In Style” said Freeman made daily comments on her appearance and clothes and "kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear" on more than one occasion. Another woman who worked on the film “Now You See Me” said Freeman had sexually harassed her and her assistant by making frequent comments about their bodies.

Even Chloe Melas, a co-author of the CNN report, accused Freeman of harassment. She said the actor made lewd comments to her during a press tour — while she was six months pregnant. In a room along with Freeman’s “Going In Style” costars Alan Arkin and Michael Caine, Freeman grabbed Melas’ hand and refused to let go. He looked her up and down and said, “I wish I was there,” according to Melas. He also said: “You are ripe.”

Seven of CNN’s 16 sources pointed to a culture of harassment at Revelations Entertainment, the entertainment company co-founded by Freeman in 1996. CNN, at Freeman’s representative’s request, provided him and Revelations’ co-founder Lori McCreary with a detailed list of accusations. Neither responded to CNN’s numerous requests for comment. Revelations Entertainment did not immediately respond to VICE News’ request for comment either.

A former employee of Revelations told CNN that Freeman, while accompanied by a group of men on the set of “Through the Wormhole,” asked her how she felt about sexual harassment. It was the first time she'd met the actor.

"I was stunned," she told CNN. "I said timidly, 'I love it' in a sarcastic way hoping to make light of the situation because I was so confused, and then he turned to the guys on the crew … and said, 'See guys, this is how you do it.'"

Cover image: Morgan Freeman, a cast member in "The Magic of Belle Isle," poses at the premiere for the film at the Director's Guild of America on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)