'You weren't there!': Dustin Hoffman snaps back at John Oliver in awkward exchange after he quizzed actor over claims he sexually harassed assistant, 17, in 1985

  • An event was held in Manhattan to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the political satire Wag the Dog
  • Actors Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman, producer Jane Rosenthal and director Barry Levinson participated in a Q&A hosted by John Oliver
  • Oliver turned the conversation to the topic of sexual harassment and asked Hoffman about his own alleged harassment of Anna Graham Hunter
  • At one point Hoffman said: 'You weren't there.' Oliver replied: 'I'm glad' 

HBO host John Oliver and actor Dustin Hoffman, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, engaged in a verbal duel during a question-and-answer session held before a 20th anniversary screening of the film Wag the Dog. 

The panel also held at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, New York on Monday was also filled with Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal and director Barry Levinson, Deadline reports.

But Oliver, asking the questions, turned the topic to sexual harassment about 20 minutes in, which prompted much sparring between him and Hoffman, who has been accused of inappropriate touching and harassment.

John Oliver speaks in November 2017
Dustin Hoffman in December 2017

John Oliver and Dustin Hoffman got into an intense argument about Hoffman's alleged sexual misconduct during a Q&A held before a screening of the film Wag the Dog in New York City

At one point Hoffman said: 'You weren't there.' Oliver replied: 'I'm glad.' Hoffman is pictured with Robert De Niro and Barry Levinson, who along with Jane Rosenthal were also on the panel hosted by Oliver

At one point Hoffman said: 'You weren't there.' Oliver replied: 'I'm glad.' Hoffman is pictured with Robert De Niro and Barry Levinson, who along with Jane Rosenthal were also on the panel hosted by Oliver

Oliver said: 'You've made one statement in print [about the allegation].'

He added: 'Does that feel like enough to you?'

Hoffman had said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter: 'I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.'

Oliver said that the last part of Hoffman's apology 'pisses me off' and deemed it a 'dismissal'.

Hoffman then said: 'You weren't there.'

Oliver replied: 'I'm glad.' 

Later, Oliver read passages from his accuser Anna Graham Hunter's account of the alleged misconduct.

Hoffman apparently asked Oliver: 'Do you believe this stuff?'

Oliver replied that he did.

Eventually the audience started verbally reacting to what they were seeing; various people shouted in favor of both Hoffman and Oliver. 

Anna Graham Hunter alleged that Hoffman sexually harassed her and touched her when she was 17 years old on the set of the 1985 TV film Death of a Salesman

Anna Graham Hunter alleged that Hoffman sexually harassed her and touched her when she was 17 years old on the set of the 1985 TV film Death of a Salesman

Eventually, Hoffman cited his experience acting in the film Tootsie, in which he played a man who dressed as a woman, and said: 'How could I have made that movie if I didn’t have incredible respect for women?'

Eventually, the film was screened. 

Anna Graham Hunter claimed that Hoffman sexually harassed her and pawed at her rear when she was 17-years-old while on the set of the 1985 TV film Death of a Salesman. 

 'He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my a**, he talked about sex to me and in front of me. One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time,' she said.

'Then he said, ''I'll have a hard-boiled egg … and a soft-boiled clitoris.'' His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried.'  

Hoffman was at that time married to wife Lisa Hoffman (née Gottsegen), they married in 1980 and they are still together.

Lisa and Dustin have four children together, two boys Jake and Max Hoffman who born in 1981 and 1984 respectively. Their girls are Rebecca and Alexandra who were born in 1983 and 1987. 

Hoffman and Hunter are pictured together during the filming of the TV movie

Hoffman and Hunter are pictured together during the filming of the TV movie

Wag the Dog was released in December 1997 and starred Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman. 

The film is a political satire and was scripted by David Mamet.

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John Oliver argues with Dustin Hoffman over abuse claims