The Hollywood actress, 85, fears the current consent culture will spell the end of “seduction”. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Dame Joan decried current cultural attitudes to sexual advances. The Dynasty star said: “What’s going to happen to seduction is you are not going to be allowed any more.
“Is someone going to have to ask permission of the parents before they can kiss a girl? “It’s absolutely becoming out of control. It seems to have happened in the last two years.
“It seems to get worse and worse.” Dame Joan also responded to recent calls for the Christmas song Baby It’s Cold Outside to be banned from radio broadcasts due to allegations the lyrics promote date rape.
The veteran star was horrified the “sweet” tune had been criticised, saying: “It’s gentle, kind, funny, tuneful. How dare they.”
Co-presenter Susanna Reid chipped in: “You’re signed up to [co-host] Piers Morgan’s school of thought – the world’s gone nuts!” Dame Joan has said she was once a victim of sexual assault, and has spoken candidly about the “unwanted advances” she faced when she was starting out in the film industry.
During a recent appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, she discussed the difficulties she faced early in her seven-decade career.
The actress recalled a situation where a producer persistently offered to give her a lift home after work, leading her to be saved by a fellow actor, who then went on to make a “nasty pass” at her himself.
During her interview, Dame Joan joked around with Susanna, who was clad in a similar floral patterned dress.
Shimmying up to her, she laughed: “Look Susanna, we look alike. You are my style inspiration.”
Dame Joan has appeared in scores of movies and TV series since making her film debut in 1951, starring in both British and American productions. But she is best remembered as scheming Alexis Colby in US hit show Dynasty.