In the wake of Ben Affleck’s response to Harvey Weinstein, actress Hilarie Burton is claiming the Affleck groped her during a TRL appearance in 2003 when she was 21 years old.
Burton came forward with the allegations on Twitter Tuesday night hours after Affleck issued a statement condemning Weinstein’s alleged decades-long history of sexual harassment and assault.
I didn’t forget.
— Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) October 10, 2017
The incident resurfaced on Twitter through a user who wrote, “He also grabbed Hilarie Burton’s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though,” The Daily Mail reports. “I didn’t forget,” the former TRL show host responded to the tweet.
Seriously, thank you for that. I was a kid.
— Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) October 11, 2017
The Twitter user then apologized to Burton for having to go through that and noted that it’s “infuriating that people never bring up all the gross, predatory things” Affleck has done.
“Seriously, thank you for that. I was a kid,” Burton responded. “Girls. I’m so impressed with you brave ones. I had to laugh back then so I wouldn’t cry. Sending love,” she added with a video which shows a brief moment from her interaction with Affleck.
Girls. I’m so impressed with you brave ones. I had to laugh back then so I wouldn’t cry. Sending love.
— Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) October 11, 2017
She was 21 years old at the time of the 2003 encounter. Affleck would have been around 31 at the time of the show.
Burton, best known for her role as Peyton on “One Tree Hill,” is now married to Jeffrey Dean Morgan of “The Walking Dead.”