In case you missed it in the ongoing barrage of sexual harassment and assault allegations that dominate the media, a woman named Anna Graham Hunter recently accused Hoffman of sexually harassing her when she was a 17-year-old intern working on Death of a Salesman.
Hoffman joined the director and cast of Wag the Dog for a 20th anniversary screening of the film. Much to Hoffman's chagrin, Oliver was brought in to moderate a panel discussion.
As The Hollywood Reporter explains, the two got into a lengthy argument about Hoffman's harassment allegations. According to a number of attendees, the pair had a lengthy, extremely uncomfortable debate about Hoffman's allegations.
On Twitter, the Washington Post's Steven Zeitchik wrote, "All hell has now broken loose on this Wag the Dog panel. The subject seemed over after seven minutes but Hoffman brought it up again, saying Oliver is not keeping an 'open mind' and is unquestionably believing accusers, and a testy five minutes followed."
UPDATE (12/05, 11:45 a.m. EST): You can now watch a video from the screening courtesy of the Washington Post.
Read tweets about what happened at the screening below.
John Oliver just went after Dustin Hoffman big time on sexual harassment at this Wag The Dog panel. Hoffman grew visibly uncomfortable. "You weren't there," he says to Oliver. "I'm happy I wasn't," Oliver replied.
— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017
All hell has now broken loose on this Wag The Dog panel. The subject seemed over after seven minutes but Hoffman brought it up again, saying Oliver is not keeping an "open mind" and is unquestionably believing accusers, and a testy five minutes followed.
— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017
And now the _ audience _ is arguing volubly back and forth about whether Hoffman is upstanding and Oliver should be asking the questions. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it at a screening panel.
— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017
Oliver just asked people to stop recording his argument with Hoffman on their phone. "That's what I hate about the Internet." But i mean, isn't that why he brought it up? To have a public conversation?
— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017
This photo was taken before #92Y panel discussion got v heated; John Oliver asked Dustin Hoffman about the sexual assault allegations against him... Hoffman denied knowing the woman. pic.twitter.com/xihbNt50fM
— Laura Podesta (@LauraPodestaTV) December 5, 2017
"You've made this incredible assumption about me, sir." Hoffman said to Oliver. Oliver says it's something he had to bring it up before we watch the film #wagthedog
— Laura Podesta (@LauraPodestaTV) December 5, 2017
Dustin Hoffman and John Oliver getting into it at Tribeca Film Institute benefit. "What response do you want?" - Hoffman "It doesn't seem self-reflective in the way the situation demands." -Oliver
— Dade Hayes (@dadehayes) December 5, 2017