Ben Affleck has vowed to be more "accountable" for his actions after he was accused of groping a woman’s breasts.
The ‘Justice League’ actor previously apologised to Hilarie Burton after she accused him of touching her inappropriately during an MTV interview in 2003, and though he doesn’t remember the incident, he believed her account and felt it was important for him to apologise.
Speaking to ‘The Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert, he said: "What I was accused of by a woman was of touching her breast while giving her a hug. I don’t remember it, but I absolutely apologised for it. I certainly don’t think she’s lying or making it up.
"It’s just the kind of thing we have to as men, as we become more aware of this, be more mindful of our behaviour and hold ourselves accountable and say, ‘If I was ever part of the problem, I want to change. I want to be part of the solution.’
"And to not shy away from these awkward or strange encounters we might have have had."
And the 45-year-old actor – who has 11-year-old Violet, eight-year-old Seraphina and five-year-old Samuel with estranged wife Jennifer Garner – urged more men to stand by the victims who have come forward to detail the alleged sexual misconduct they have faced.
He added: "I think the most important thing to do is to support the voices coming forward, believe them, and create a business where more women are empowered and in place so less of this happens. And so that there is a way of reporting this stuff so that people can feel safe doing it."
Ben thought he "understood" the extent of the problem in Hollywood, but has grown to realise that as a man, he can’t truly share the experiences of women and though he knows it isn’t a wider problem he can solve himself, he can help by checking his own behaviour.
He said: "I thought I had a sense of the scope of the problem and I thought I understood it and the truth is I really didn’t.
"I didn’t understand what it’s like to be groped, to be harassed, to be interrupted, talked over, paid less, you know, pushed around, belittled: all the things that women deal with, for me as a man, I have the privilege of not having to deal with.
"Part of this for me has been listening to people I really care about and love as they tell me stories of stuff that has happened to them, this is men and women, and recognising it’s a real thing. I’m not spokesman, I’m not a superhero, I can’t change it by myself. I can just be accountable for myself and my actions."
The ‘Argo’ filmmaker previously apologised after a fan said of him on Twitter: "He also grabbed Hilarie Burton’s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though".
Hilarie, 35, replied: "I didn’t forget."
Ben then took to Twitter to say: "I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologise."
Ben Affleck is accountable for his actions
