Comedian-turned-U.S. Senator Al Franken has apologized for allegedly kissing a radio host without her consent.
Leeann Tweeden has detailed her experience with the former Saturday Night Live star back in 2006, claiming he kissed and groped her during a USO (United Service Organization) tour.
In an interview published by talk radio station KABC’s website, Tweeden alleges Franken offered her small part in a skit he had written for the touring show and asked her to rehearse it.
“When I saw the script, Franken had written a moment when his character comes at me for a kiss,” she writes. “I suspected what he was after, but I figured I could turn my head at the last minute, or put my hand over his mouth, to get more laughs from the crowd.”
However, Tweeden claims Franken insisted on rehearsing the kiss and she had to tell him to stop “badgering” her.
I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017
“We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth,” she continues. “I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time…”
Tweeden claims she avoided Franken for the rest of the trip, but was stunned when she saw a picture of him allegedly groping her breast while she was asleep on a plane ride home from Afghanistan.
Leeann has since posted the picture online and Franken is now apologizing over the alleged exchange.
“I certainly don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann,” a statement from Franken reads. “As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t. I shouldn’t have done it.”
