Director Defends Dustin Hoffman from Sexual Harassment Claims
"Death of a Salesman" director Volker Schlondorff has stepped forward and defended actor Dustin Hoffman's from then-intern Anna Graham Hunter's accusations of sexual harassment.
The German filmmaker has responded to Hunter's column about her own experiences with sexual harassment particularly on the set of Schlondorff's film, with the star actor. But contrary to her statements, the director believes that his former intern mischaracterized Hoffman's behavior on-set.
"Standard Monday-morning questions was, indeed, 'did you have good sex over the weekend?'" Schlondorff told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.
After Harvey Weinstein's scandalous exploits which have reportedly spanned decades were revealed, more and more women have come forward detailing their own experiences with such predatory men. Hunter, who was only 17 years old in 1985, served as an intern on the set of the Schlondorff-directed film. And she has revealed that she has been a victim of such unwanted advances.
Hunter said that Hoffman used to grab her buttocks and make vulgar remarks. Apparently, that behavior, according to the 78-year-old director were harmless jokes. Schlondorff said that Hoffman was notorious for making jokes but calling him a predator is too much.
Admittedly he said that he did not witness the groping. But if he did he would not fit it lecherous. "He was teasing the young, nervous interns, mostly to make them feel included on the set, treating them as equals to all the senior technicians," Schlondorff said.
The filmmaker said that if Hoffman knew that Hunter was uncomfortable with his jokes. He would have stopped teasing her.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor has also spoken out following Hunter's accusations. He said, "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."
