Alyssa Milano, Meghan McCain defend Joe Biden as Trevor Noah calls him 'super creepy'

Alyssa Milano and Meghan McCain are offering support to former Vice President Joe Biden, who now stands accused of inappropriate behavior by two women.

Monday, the Hartford Courant reported Amy Lappos of Connecticut said Biden, a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, touched her and rubbed his nose on hers during a 2009 political fundraiser in Greenwich.

The accusation comes days after Lucy Flores, a former member of the Nevada Legislature, accused Biden of "demeaning and disrespectful" behavior when he allegedly kissed the back of her head a first-person published by The Cut.

Biden responded to Flores' allegations saying he does not believe he ever "acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention."

Milano, who helped kick-start the #MeToo movement started by activist Tarana Burke, posted a series of tweets Monday describing Biden as the man she knows him to be.

"I am proud to call Joe Biden a friend," she began in the thread, sharing a photo of the two. "He has been a leader and a champion on fighting violence against women for many years, and I have been fortunate to accompany him to events with survivors where he has listened to their stories, empathized with them, and comforted them."

The actress known for roles on "Charmed" and "Who's the Boss?" painted the former veep as "a warm, generous individual who believes its on all of us to pay attention to women's stories and experiences."

Milano also mentioned the movement Biden and former President Barack Obama launched in 2014, in an effort to eradicate sexual assault.

"3. Biden started Its (sic) On Us because he believes to meaningfully change our culture, everyone - including those often left out of the conversation like college athletes and fraternity brothers - needed to be part of the movement," Milano tweeted.

She also deemed Biden's reaction to Flores' allegations "exactly the leadership we need to build a culture where women are heard and are equal."

"5. I respect Lucy Flores' decision to share her story and agree with Biden that we all must pay attention to it," Milano continued. "But, just as we must believe women that decide to come forward, we cannot assume all women's experiences are the same."

In conclusion, she wrote: "6. I believe that Joe Biden's intent has never been to make anyone uncomfortable, and that his kind, empathetic leadership is what our country needs. Especially now."

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Some criticized Milano for her statement on the social media site, pointing out, though she has had pleasant exchanges with Biden, that doesn't mean the others' accounts aren't true.

"I taught w a guy who was so kind...a compassionate, hardworking teacher who students LOVED," a Twitter user responded. "Turned out he'd been molesting girls for over a decade in his classroom. Your personal experience w Biden does NOT mean he is not guilty of misogyny & inappropriate touching."

"Oh Alyssa no. You can count someone as a friend, have had nothing but positive interactions with them- & they can still have had harassed or assaulted other people," someone shared. "Being an impactful advocate means listening to & believing others ESPECIALLY when it’s out of your comfort zone."

"I love him. Love love love him," wrote another. "But given all the tremendous work you do for women this tweet is in such poor taste. I have to believe you know this 'my experience with X means they behave the same way with someone else' is a terrible, cruel false equivalency."

Others in opposition to Milano's stance brought up Anita Hill, who accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Biden chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991 when Hill gave testimony about the then-Supreme Court nominee. Biden took heat for what critics called a badgering of Hill by Senate inquisitors, particularly Republicans.

"Maybe you're too young to remember the Anita Hill hearings," a person posted on Twitter in response to Milano's remarks. "I will never forgive him for that. He may be a good egg as far as men go (because the bar tends to be low) but he shouldn't be president."

Last week, Biden expressed remorse about his actions. "To this day I regret I couldn’t come up with a way to give (Hill) the kind of hearing she deserved."

McCain tweeted that Biden, a friend of her late father's, was set apart from others in his field. Biden's son Beau, who died in 2015, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same type of brain cancer the Sen. John McCain had.

"Joe Biden is one of the truly decent and compassionate men in all of American politics," the co-host of "The View" tweeted Monday."He has helped me through my fathers (sic) diagnosis, treatment and ultimate passing more than anyone of my fathers (sic) friends combined. I wish there was more empathy from our politicians not less."

Not all stars have jumped to Biden's defense. "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah called the politician "super creepy" Monday night.

"Currently, the former vice president is putting out feelers to see where he stands," Noah began, referencing Biden's potential 2020 run. "And apparently, the answer is 'too close to women.' "

The late night host dubbed the allegations "SniffKissGate" and argued that if Biden's behaviors weren't "just being cute," he would have done the same with men.

"Even though (Flores) says it wasn't sexual at all, it clearly made her uncomfortable and it's definitely not OK," Noah said. "I mean, smelling hair is always weird... What is it with America's vice presidents? None of them are normal.

"One guy is smelling women's hair, the other one refuses to be near a woman without a chaperone," he said, as a photo of Vice President Mike Pence appeared. "Isn't there a middle ground? Huh? There's nowhere between #MeToo and 'A Handmaid's Tale?'"

The allegations against Biden come amid #MeToo, a movement started nearly a decade ago that went viral in 2017 as women in Hollywood and across the country began sharing stories of sexual harassment and assault. It’s led to the resignation or downfall of more than 100 entertainers, executives and politicians, including Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and Kevin Spacey. Former Minnesota Democrat Sen. Al Franken announced his resignation in 2017 following accusations of sexual misconduct. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., also stepped down, along with Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who resigned amid reports he discussed with female staffers the possibility they could be surrogates for his and his wife's baby.

More than a dozen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct over the years, including eight women who have accused him of forcibly kissing them. Trump has denied the allegations. In an “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced during the final weeks of the presidential campaign in 2016, Trump was heard making lewd comments and bragging about groping women. The president has said that was "locker-room banter."

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Contributing: Ledyard King, John Bacon, David Jackson and The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alyssa Milano, Meghan McCain defend Joe Biden as Trevor Noah calls him 'super creepy'