Sharon Stone opens up about a past incident of harassment with a former Sony boss from the mid-80s in a recent interview on Kelly Ripa's 'Let's Talk Off Camera' podcast.
Previously evasive about her experiences with harassment in Hollywood during a 2018 'CBS Sunday Morning' interview, Stone revealed this particular incident for the first time.
Recalling the encounter, Stone described the meeting with the Sony executive, which took place in the 1980s, shortly after her move to Los Angeles. The actress vividly remembered wearing her best suit for the occasion, feeling excited about meeting the head of Sony. She highlighted the unique low chairs prevalent in the 80s, which left her in a vulnerable position due to her height.
During the meeting, the Sony executive made inappropriate comments about Stone's appearance and intelligence, ultimately exposing himself in front of her. Stone, then a young actress, responded with a mix of laughter and tears, feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to react. The incident concluded with the executive putting himself away and leaving the room behind his desk.
Stone shared that this was not an isolated experience in her career and mentioned similar instances of harassment. The actress recounted the difficulty of processing such traumatic events, emphasizing her response of nervous laughter and the impact it had on her emotionally.
Reflecting on her decision to speak out now, Stone mentioned attending a concert in Los Angeles where a singer performed a song about harassment. This prompted her to share her own experience, highlighting the persistence of such issues in Hollywood over the years. Stone expressed a willingness to receive apologies from those who mistreated her but asserted her firm stance on boundaries, warning that individuals who had harmed her in the past should not sit near her.
The actress concluded by describing instances where men, aware of their past actions, avoided sitting next to her at events. Stone made it clear that forgiveness would be necessary for any change in this dynamic, stating that those seeking her forgiveness could not occupy an empty seat next to her unless they had genuinely asked for her forgiveness.
