LOS ANGELES •In 2015, on the location shoot of bank heist comedy Going In Style, a production assistant found it was no laughing matter dealing with star Morgan Freeman.

She told CNN that he touched her repeatedly, rubbed her lower back and frequently commented on her appearance. She said Freeman, who turns 80 next week, continually tried to lift her skirt and asked if she put on underwear.

Her account was among 16 that described a variety of troubling behaviour on production sets or promotional tours over Freeman's career, leading the actor to apologise on Thursday. Of the 16 people, eight said they were victims.

In a statement, Freeman said: "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected - that was never my intent."

Among the accounts was one from a senior production staff working on the thriller Now You See Me (2013).

She told CNN that team members knew "not to wear any top that would show our breasts, not to wear anything that would show our bottoms", if Freeman was coming by them.

He is also accused of staring at women's breasts, asking a woman how she felt about sexual harassment and asking others to twirl for him.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE