New women accusing Biden of inappropriate conduct say his video statement wasn't enough
Three more women have said that former Vice President Joe Biden made them feel uncomfortable with unwanted physical contact, and they say they're not satisfied with his new video statement.
Vail Kohnert-Yount, Sofie Karasek, and Ally Coll shared their claims against Biden with The Washington Post on Wednesday. Kohnert-Yount said she felt uncomfortable when Biden touched the back of her head and put his forehead against hers while calling her a "pretty girl." Karasek recalled a similar experience while speaking with Biden at the 2016 Oscars, saying he grabbed her hand and came within inches of her face. Coll said Biden squeezed her shoulders and held her "for a beat too long."
Seven women have now said Biden's physical contact made them uncomfortable, although none have accused him of sexual harassment or assault. Biden said in a video statement on Wednesday that he will "adjust" his behavior in light of changing "social norms."
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But the three women The Washington Post spoke to expressed dissatisfaction with this video, with Kohnert-Yount saying that while "I appreciate" Biden's "attempt to do better," the situation is "not mainly about whether Joe Biden has adequate respect for personal space" but is about "women deserving equal respect in the workplace." Karasek said Biden "still didn't take ownership in the way that he needs to" with the video, while Coll said his video showed "a continued lack of understanding about why these stories are being told and their relevance in the #MeToo era."
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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