Former daytime host Kathie Lee Gifford revealed on the “Today” show Monday that she was harassed by an unnamed movie producer in Los Angeles when she was 21 years old.
The producer offered to manage her career, but then allegedly harassed her in a private meeting after telling her he was working from home while his office was under construction, People reported.
She compared her experience to some of the stories emerging about how producer Harvey Weinstein allegedly harassed and tried to coerce women into giving him massages and performing sexual favors for him.
In particular, she said the “exact same thing” happened during her encounter as happened to TV reporter Lauren Sivan, who said that Weinstein allegedly forced her to watch him masturbate at a restaurant in New York City, People reported.
“Boy, I felt grateful I got out of there without being raped,” Gifford, now 64, said on “Today.”
“But you’re so demeaned, you feel so dirty. More than anything, you know what you feel? Stupid,” she added, although she pointed out that something similar could have happened in an office, too.
Gifford has a close relationship with Weinstein and said she didn’t see any evidence of the harassment claimed by more than a dozen women so far, including eight who received settlements from Weinstein, People reported. “I’m not saying it didn’t happen. I’m just saying I know a different man, just like I did with Bill Cosby,” Gifford said on “Today.”
Weinstein has apologized for his behavior while not admitting to any coercion, and has said he would get counseling, People reported.
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