Casey Affleck talks #MeToo: ‘I need to keep my mouth shut and listen’

UNITED STATES
Entertainment Weekly

August 9, 2018

By David Canfield

Casey Affleck discussed the #MeToo movement in a wide-ranging interview with the Associated Press, his first time addressing the topic at length since skipping this year’s Academy Awards over lingering controversy concerning his own alleged past conduct.

“I think it was the right thing to do just given everything that was going on in our culture at the moment,” Affleck said of bowing out of the ceremony, where as the reigning Best Actor winner he would traditionally have presented the Best Actress award; Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster jointly presented in his place. “Having two incredible women go present the Best Actress award felt like the right thing.”

Affleck won his Oscar in 2017 for Manchester by the Sea and dealt with the resurfacing of his alleged sexual misconduct while on the campaign trail. In 2010, he was sued for sexual harassment by two women who worked with him on the film I’m Still Here; both cases were settled out of court. Affleck previously denied the allegations. “It was settled to the satisfaction of all,” he told The New York Times last year. “I was hurt and upset — I am sure all were — but I am over it. It was an unfortunate situation — mostly for the innocent bystanders of the families of those involved.”

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