"Thank you for believing women" - Dustin Hoffman's controversial past revisited: John Oliver's moment of truth
John Oliver openly confronted Dustin Hoffman during a live event about a sexual harassment claim made against him by a former intern, offering a rare look at a renowned actor being questioned on such a serious allegation.
Updated : October 20, 2023 05:25 PM ISTJohn Oliver openly confronted Dustin Hoffman during a live event about a sexual harassment claim made against him by a former intern, offering a rare look at a renowned actor being questioned on such a serious allegation.
Dustin Hoffman (Source: CBS News)
In an audacious on-stage moment from years ago, comedian John Oliver pointedly questioned Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman over sexual harassment allegations brought against him, as reported by Reuters. This incident furnished spectators in New York with a rare spectacle of a high-profile individual tackling such an accusation in a live setting.
"It is reflective of who you were," Oliver had retorted to Hoffman, challenging the actor's claim that the incident was “not reflective of who I am”. The much-acclaimed Hollywood star found himself among a roster of rich and famous personalities accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault charges.
In the Eye of the Storm
Anna Graham Hunter, Hoffman's accuser, had earlier claimed in The Hollywood Reporter that Hoffman had acted inappropriately towards her when she was a 17-year-old intern on a film set in 1985. The actor, in response, offered an apology for putting her in an "uncomfortable situation" but asserted that her account did not mirror who he was.
During a panel discussion marking the 20th anniversary of the film "Wag the Dog," in which Hoffman starred, Oliver assumed the role of the moderator. He felt it necessary to address the elephant in the room, saying "it's hanging in the air."
A Hard Line of Questioning
The event took a dramatic turn as Hoffman asked Oliver, "Do you believe this stuff that you read?" Oliver stood firm in his belief in Hunter's account, stating, "Because there’s no point in her lying."
While some audience members voiced their displeasure with Oliver's line of questioning, others showed their support, highlighting the divided opinions surrounding the issue. The exchange represented a rare moment of confrontation in Hollywood's long-standing battle against sexual misconduct.
(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)