John Oliver slams Dustin Hoffman over sexual harassment claims

COMEDIAN John Oliver has confronted Dustin Hoffman over sexual harassment claims in an awkward TV encounter.

DUSTIN Hoffman got into a heated war of words with TV host John Oliver during a public Q & A session after he questioned the actor about recent sexual harassment allegations that were made against him.

“You’ve made one statement in print — does that feel like enough to you?” Oliver asked, in reference to an apology Hoffman made after he was publicly accused by a former production assistant in The Hollywood Reporter last month, the New York Post reports.

“First of all, it didn’t happen, the way she reported,” the actor said, according to Deadline.

To which Oliver replied, “It’s that part of the response to this stuff that pisses me off. It is reflective of who you were. You’ve given no evidence to show that it didn’t happen. There was a period of time when you were creeping around women. It feels like a cop-out to say, ‘Well, this isn’t me.’ Do you understand how that feels like a dismissal?”

John Oliver has slammed Dustin Hoffman. Picture: Supplied

Dustin Hoffman says a sexual harassment claim against him in not entirely accurate. Picture: AFP

Hoffman fired back, “You weren’t there.”

“I’m glad,” Oliver said.

Hoffman was accused by Anna Graham-Hunter of sexually harassing the then 17-year-old back in 1985 on the set of the TV movie Death of a Salesman.

Dustin Hoffman in TV movie Death of a Salesman. Picture: Supplied

The event — which was held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hoffman’s film, Wag the Dog — lasted roughly an hour and was filled with heated exchanges throughout the night, Deadline reports.

“You’ve put me on display here,” Hoffman told Oliver at one point. “You have indicted me ... That’s not innocent until proven guilty.”

Dustin Hoffman and his wife, Lisa Hoffman. Picture: Getty

The actor repeatedly tried to blame the time period for his actions, saying the atmosphere was different back then when the alleged abuse occurred. This prompted Oliver to go back on the offensive.

“I don’t love that answer either,” the British comedian said.

“What response do you want?” Hoffman asked.

John Oliver just went after Dustin Hoffman big time on sexual harassment at this Wag The Dog panel. Hoffman grew visibly uncomfortable. "You weren't there," he says to Oliver. "I'm happy I wasn't," Oliver replied.

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

All hell has now broken loose on this Wag The Dog panel. The subject seemed over after seven minutes but Hoffman brought it up again, saying Oliver is not keeping an "open mind" and is unquestionably believing accusers, and a testy five minutes followed.

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

And now the _ audience _ is arguing volubly back and forth about whether Hoffman is upstanding and Oliver should be asking the questions. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it at a screening panel.

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

“It doesn’t feel self-reflective in the way it seems the incident demands,” replied Oliver.

“I get no pleasure from this conversation,” he added. “But you and I are not the victims here.”

Referencing reports in THR and Variety, Hoffman said: “Do you believe this stuff you’re reading?”

In response, Oliver flat-out said that he did “because she would have no reason to lie.”

Moments later, a person in the crowd shouted: “Thank you for believing women.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post

Originally published as John Oliver slams Dustin Hoffman over sexual harassment claims