Ben Affleck criticised for sexual harassment joke

0
147
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Actor Ben Affleck attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Live By Night" at TCL Chinese Theatre on January 9, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Ben Affleck has been criticised for making a joke about sexual harassment during a recent Justice League interview.

During the said interview, the cast was asked by MTV who they’d want to join the team with all the responses being female superheroes like Supergirl and Suicide Squad’s Katana.

They were then asked what they would “get up to” if one were to join.

After Ray Fisher explained that it would bring a “different dynamic”, Affleck replied: “You following the news at all?”

While you can’t say for sure what misguided point Affleck was trying to make, he seems to be referring to the numerous counts of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct that have come to light in recent weeks.

Some took it to imply that he was making fun of the allegations and they were not impressed, criticising the actor for his ill-advised ‘joke’.

Back in October, Affleck apologised for acting “inappropriately” towards actress Hilarie Burton in a 2003 TV appearance after footage re-emerged of him appearing to touch Burton while being interviewed on MTV’s Total Request Live.

The Argo director’s comment comes a month after he spoke out against Harvey Weinstein in the wake of the ongoing sexual harassment scandal surrounding the film producer.

In his statement posted on Facebook, Affleck wrote: ‘I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades.’

A week later, BFF and colleague Matt Damon revealed that both he and the father-of-three were aware of Weinstein’s harassment of friend and Affleck’s ex-girlfriend, Gwyneth Paltrow.

Earlier this month, he pledged to donate all his future profits from Weinstein and Miramax to two charities: movie making organisation Film Independent and anti-sexual violence charity RAINN.

Justice League is scheduled to release on November 17.