‘Watershed moment’ Al Porter on Hollywood harassment scandals
Just days before facing allegations of sexual harassment, Al Porter spoke to Hot Press about his thoughts on the sexual assault accusations pouring out of Hollywood at an alarming rate.
The comedian is facing claims of sexual harassment, groping and misconduct from four fellow comedians.
Speaking exclusively to Hot Press, Porter described the Weinstein scandal as being a 'watershed moment culturally where what is seen as decent and acceptable behaviour is going to change.'
The comedian condemned the actions of abusers, and said that from this point onwards, many people would be drastically changing their behaviour.
'I don’t care how provocatively a woman dresses, or how late at night she arranged to have a business meeting with you,' he said when asked about consent.
'Or whether it was in your hotel room or not. If you’re grabbing her and she doesn’t want it, you’re in the wrong,' he told the music mag.
Porter, who has been accused of groping a number of men, went on to say:
'I would hate to tar a comedian with that brush, but it is my experience that if you are in a gay bar, if I had a euro for every time I was grabbed or pulled or somebody laid a kiss on me and I wasn’t expecting it at all.'
'That kinda thing happens for right or wrong,' he told Hot Press.
— Al Porter (@TheAlPorter) November 19, 2017
Porter has apologised for his behaviour, and has resigned from his radio show on Today FM.
'While my conduct, which had been in keeping with my flamboyant and outrageous public persona may be regarded as offensive and unacceptable by many people, I at no time intended to upset anyone.'
'I sincerely apologise to anyone I may have genuinely offended.'
Porter has since been dropped from this year's pantomime, Polly and The Beanstalk.
