Sometimes celebrities forget the power of their words. When they speak out for a good cause, they can truly make a difference. And when they speak out about something that is downright hurtful to some, one wonders why they say anything at all.

Jeremy Irons is the latest example. During an interview across the pond recently, he said that legislation has gone too far in protecting women who experience sexual harassment at work.

Here's a portion of what the English actor said, according to Yahoo: "If a man puts his hand on a woman's bottom, any woman worth her salt can deal with it. It's communication. Can't we be friendly?"

Many articles are saying Irons is attacking "political correctness," but it's more than that. The implication is that a woman is weak and whiny if she needs to complain about that sort of touching.

One woman who likely disagrees with Irons' statements is a receptionist in Charleston, West Virginia. She is suing her former employer, a physician, claiming he harassed her for over six months. This included inappropriate touching.

She says that after months of lewd comments about sex toys, the doctor grabbed her breasts. She was shocked and embarrassed and ultimately quit her job. She says she could not return because of the hostile work environment. According to the West Virginia Record, she's seeking both compensatory and punitive damages in her lawsuit.

The Oscar-winning Irons is great at embodying characters, but apparently is not able to imagine what it feels like to be in her shoes.

Source: Yahoo.com, "Irons slams political correctness," Aug. 9, 2011