Fred Savage denies misconduct allegations

Fred Savage, the former child star of the 1988-93 ABC series "The Wonder Years," has responded to the newly released specific misconduct allegations that resulted in his firing months ago as a director-producer of the current reboot.

"Since I was 6 years old, I have worked on hundreds of sets with thousands of people, and have always strived to contribute to an inclusive, safe and supportive work environment," Savage, 46, said in a statement first given to The Hollywood Reporter. "It is devastating to learn that there are co-workers who feel I have fallen short of these goals. While there are some incidents being reported that absolutely did not and could not have happened, any one person who feels hurt or offended by my actions is one person too many."

He added, "I will work to address and change any behavior that has negatively affected anyone, as nothing in this world is more important to me than being a supportive co-worker, friend, husband, father and person."

The statement was part of an article Tuesday detailing accusations made by six women crew members on the reboot, whose human resources complaints resulted in Savage's firing in May for what a representative for the studio 20th Television called "allegations of inappropriate conduct." Following an anonymously sourced tabloid report saying Savage still retained much support from industry colleagues, some of the women contacted The Hollywood Reporter to respond. "I and the other women feel that people need to know what the wrongdoing was," said one.

The women, who requested anonymity out of fear for their livelihoods, said Savage's conduct ranged from verbal harassment to an alleged assault of a former crew member. One said when she tried to shield a younger colleague from the married Savage's advancements, "he proceeded to verbally harass me and belittle me. … [W]hen he pulled me aside multiple times when he was verbally harassing me, his eyes would go dead."

The former crew member told THR that Savage in December had entered the women's restroom of a bar the crew frequented. He approached her with what she called "just, like, dead eyes" and pushed her against a wall. Despite her pleading, "He put his mouth on mine very forcefully. He went for the top of my pants. I brushed him away … I was pulling back. He stopped very angrily. I shoulder-checked him so I could get out."

In a voicemail the former crew member shared with THR, Savage apologizes for unspecified behavior. "And I've kind of owed you an apology for a minute here and so, uh, the truth is I really like you and I really want to be friends, and I'm so sorry that I ... [messed up]." The woman said she did not reply.

Savage, whose directing credits include "Black-ish," "The Conners" and "Modern Family," has no evident social-media accounts. His representative did not respond to a Newsday request for comment.