MSNBC Analyst Mark Halperin Accused of Sexual Harassment by Five Women
People have been expecting the floodgates to open with sexual harassment claims in Hollywood. But could they be opening in the mainstream media as well? Looks like MSNBC analyst Mark Halperin may be entering rehab in the near future.
...women who spoke to CNN say he also had a dark side not made public until now. The stories of harassment shared with CNN range in nature from propositioning employees for sex to kissing and grabbing one's breasts against her will. Three of the women who spoke to CNN described Halperin as, without consent, pressing an erection against their bodies while he was clothed. Halperin denies grabbing a woman's breasts and pressing his genitals against the three women.
Ew. Kind of a skuzzbucket. Allegedly. Getting handsy with the ladies. And feeling them up with his John Thomas? Not all #LoveisLove, Markster.
"During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me," Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. "I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation."
I don't want to use the word schadenfreude as I don't want to make light of the accusers (see Conservative Woman Pens Powerful Essay on Sexual Assault #MeToo and Sam Elliot Defends Weinstein’s Victims, Offers Insight). Halperin is actually one of the less douchey of his MSNBC colleagues (at least, you thought so until now). Give it time, though. Maybe some butch-cutted on air or off air talent have engaged in playful lesbian dalliances.
However, one of the reasons people are reveling in Hollywood's misery is due to the sanctimonious nature of script-readers (actors). Lecturing the rest of us about how we should live our lives. Multiply that by eleventy when it comes to mainstream media personalities. Who are like that on a daily basis and 24/7 on Twitter.
Expect more of these accusations to be leveled against creepy news media personalities. Who, like Hollywood tycoons, lecture all of us about better ways to live. While apparently grabbing boobs and ass when the cameras aren't rolling.
