Watch: John Oliver grills Dustin Hoffman about sexual harassment claim in front of live audience
John Oliver Hoffman
Hoffman is among a number of rich and famous men who have been accused of sexual misconduct since October when Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual assault
A spokeswoman for Hoffman was not immediately available to comment on Monday`s exchange.
Oliver, host of a weekly show on HBO that analyses and satirizes the news, discussed Hoffman`s statement while moderating a panel to mark the 20th anniversary of the film Wag the Dog,starring Hoffman.
Oliver said he felt obligated to raise the topic because "it`s hanging in the air."
Oliver raised Hoffman`s statement that it was "not reflective of who I am."It is reflective of who you were," Oliver said. "It feels like a cop-out to say, `It wasn`t me.` Do you understand how that feels like a dismissal?"
Hoffman later asked Oliver about the woman`s account of the 1985 incident, saying, "Do you believe this stuff that you read?"
"I believe what she wrote, yes," Oliver responded. "Because there`s no point in her lying."
"Well, there is a point in her not bringing this up for 40 years," Hoffman said of the 32-year-old incident.
The discussion was largely calm and cordial, though one person in the audience yelled at Oliver to "Move on. Let it go," the Washington Post reported. That person was drowned out by others, including one who said, "Shame on you," the Post reported. Another said, "Thank you for believing women."