“I had to laugh back then so I wouldn’t cry.”
On Tuesday, Ben Affleck released a statement in response to the sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Affleck worked with Weinstein on over a dozen films over the course of his career, including his 1997 Academy Award-winning film Good Will Hunting.
Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images
It also started a conversation about Affleck’s general treatment of women. Twitter user @ShaniceBrim tweeted that Affleck “grabbed Hilarie Burton’s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though.”
@ShaniceBrim / Twitter / Via Twitter: @ShaniceBrim
Burton, who was a TRL VJ at the time and later starred on One Tree Hill, responded on Twitter, saying, “I didn’t forget.”
@HilarieBurton / Twitter / Via Twitter: @HilarieBurton
Here’s a video of the incident on TRL, which was shown as part of MTV’s TRL Uncensored, a behind the scenes look at the series.
MTV / mschsms / YouTube / Via youtube.com
During their interview from the early 2000s, Affleck goes over to Burton and says, “Nice to see you,” as he grabs her.
MTV
“He wraps his arm around me and comes over and tweaks my left boob,” Burton says in a confessional-style interview about the moment. “I’m just like, ‘What are you doing?'”
MTV
“Some girls like a good tweakage here and there. Um, I’d rather have a high five,” she concludes.
MTV
Along with the video, Burton tweeted: “Girls. I’m so impressed with you brave ones. I had to laugh back then so I wouldn’t cry. Sending love.”
@HilarieBurton / Twitter / Via Twitter: @HilarieBurton
BuzzFeed News has reached out to representatives for Affleck and MTV for a response, as well as to Burton for further information.