Former Disney and DreamWorks Animation head Jeffrey Katzenberg has denied a crude statement about Molly Ringwald attributed to him in a 1995 MovieLine article that resurfaced this week — but nonetheless says he’s “deeply, deeply sorry.”
“That Molly Ringwald had to read those words attributed to me and believe I said them is horrifying, mortifying and embarrassing to me,” Katzenberg said in a statement to TheWrap. “Anyone who knows me now or back then knows I do not use language like that as a matter of course, or tolerate it. Ms. Ringwald, 22 years too late, I am deeply, deeply sorry.”
On Tuesday, the actress penned a column for The New Yorker titled “All The Other Harveys,” in which she joined the growing chorus of women in Hollywood speaking out against sexual harassment in the industry in light of sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
The “Sixteen Candles” star’s biggest call-out was perhaps aimed at Katzenberg for a crude comment attributed to him in a 1995 profile for MovieLine.
Without mentioning him by name, Ringwald noted a MovieLine profile in which Katzenberg was quoted as dismissing the actress’ career after several years on hiatus: “I wouldn’t know [Molly Ringwald] if she sat on my face.”
“Maybe he was misquoted,” she wrote. “If he ever sent a note of apology, it must have gotten lost in the mail.”
The actress, who currently stars on CW’s “Riverdale,” added, “I could go on about other instances in which I have felt demeaned or exploited, but I fear it would get repetitive. Then again, that’s part of the point.”
A representative for Ringwald has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.