Rape, sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry

[scifisam]

I love how "that was a shit joke and inappropriate in the context" always becomes "hideously offensive and should never be seen by anybody."

 

[LiamO]

You do know that cognitive abilities develop with age, don't you?

Maybe your cognitive abilities developed with age - but you're emotional inteligence does not a ppear to have developed at all.

You're an old man now and still run around spouting bile like a child with a slapped arse.

 

[elbows]

Scott Rosenberg had some thoughts, centred around the theme 'everybody-fucking-knew', a point he is able to make rather convincingly by virtue of having been there and having talked to everyone about it at the time.

‘Beautiful Girls’ Scribe Scott Rosenberg On A Complicated Legacy With Harvey Weinstein

A sample:

So, yeah, I was there.
And let me tell you one thing.
Let’s be perfectly clear about one thing:

Everybody-fucking-knew.

Not that he was raping.
No, that we never heard.
But we were aware of a certain pattern of overly-aggressive behavior that was rather dreadful.
We knew about the man’s hunger; his fervor; his appetite.
There was nothing secret about this voracious rapacity; like a gluttonous ogre out of the Brothers Grimm.
All couched in vague promises of potential movie roles.
(and, it should be noted: there were many who actually succumbed to his bulky charms. Willingly. Which surely must have only impelled him to cast his fetid net even wider).

But like I said: everybody-fucking-knew.

And to me, if Harvey’s behavior is the most reprehensible thing one can imagine, a not-so-distant second is the current flood of sanctimonious denial and condemnation that now crashes upon these shores of rectitude in gloppy tides of bullshit righteousness.

Because everybody-fucking-knew.

And do you know how I am sure this is true?
Because I was there.
And I saw you.
And I talked about it with you.
You, the big producers; you, the big directors; you, the big agents; you, the big financiers.
And you, the big rival studio chiefs; you, the big actors; you, the big actresses; you, the big models.
You, the big journalists; you, the big screenwriters; you, the big rock stars; you, the big restaurateurs; you, the big politicians.

I saw you.
All of you.
God help me, I was there with you.

 

[Wilf]

Scott Rosenberg had some thoughts, centred around the theme 'everybody-fucking-knew', a point he is able to make rather convincingly by virtue of having been there and having talked to everyone about it at the time.

‘Beautiful Girls’ Scribe Scott Rosenberg On A Complicated Legacy With Harvey Weinstein

A sample:

That's a great piece and you inevitably put yourself in the same position and wonder whether you would have acted. I do think though he poses the 'what could you have done' question wrongly. There might have been nobody to go to, to complain to, but you/he could have walked away from Weinstein/Miramax. I'm perhaps being hard on him, but I suspect the detail he did know at the time wasn't just 'consensual but exploitative'. If he was hearing stories about the attacks, it's almost certain he knew a bit of detail about the way the women were manipulated and pressurised - and must also known about the role of Weinstein's entourage in 'processing' his victims. It's a good reflective piece and there's a sense of there by the grace of god go I. However I have a nagging doubt that he's slightly sanitising the nature of what he 'knew'.

 

[Rosemary Jest]

I've got nowt else to add to this thread, except:

Harvey Fucking Wankstain

 

[scifisam]

That's a great piece and you inevitably put yourself in the same position and wonder whether you would have acted. I do think though he poses the 'what could you have done' question wrongly. There might have been nobody to go to, to complain to, but you/he could have walked away from Weinstein/Miramax. I'm perhaps being hard on him, but I suspect the detail he did know at the time wasn't just 'consensual but exploitative'. If he was hearing stories about the attacks, it's almost certain he knew a bit of detail about the way the women were manipulated and pressurised - and must also known about the role of Weinstein's entourage in 'processing' his victims. It's a good reflective piece and there's a sense of there by the grace of god go I. However I have a nagging doubt that he's slightly sanitising the nature of what he 'knew'.

One problem with "leaving Miramax" is that there would have been a similar sleaze at the next company. The phrase "casting couch" exists for a reason and even leaving the movie industry altogether wouldn't necessarily make any difference because it happens everywhere.

 

[Casually Red]

Ben Affleck appears to be doing the disgraced 1980s Tory Mp routine

Embattled Ben Affleck goes to church with Jennifer Garner

 

[agricola]

One problem with "leaving Miramax" is that there would have been a similar sleaze at the next company. The phrase "casting couch" exists for a reason and even leaving the movie industry altogether wouldn't necessarily make any difference because it happens everywhere.

It does, but its hard to think of any other industry (certainly outside of "entertainment") where everything (the power wielded by them, the insecurity of everyone else and the money flying around on their say-so) appears to be geared to almost encourage the Weinsteins of this world to do what he (they) did.

 

[8den]

One problem with "leaving Miramax" is that there would have been a similar sleaze at the next company. The phrase "casting couch" exists for a reason and even leaving the movie industry altogether wouldn't necessarily make any difference because it happens everywhere.

In the 1990s Miramax was Independent Cinema in the US, crossing or challenging Weinstein was very much a once in a career mistake. He was a bully in every sense of the word, Sexually, Physically, Emotionally, Intellectually, he was incredibly intimidating to everyone who met him.

 

[scifisam]

In the 1990s Miramax was Independent Cinema in the US, crossing or challenging Weinstein was very much a once in a career mistake. He was a bully in every sense of the word, Sexually, Physically, Emotionally, Intellectually, he was incredibly intimidating to everyone who met him.

Yep. It's not only women who are initimidated by that kind of behaviour.

Also bear in mind that in the US healthcare for you and your family is usually tied to your job (and for actors etc it's often tied to their union membership, which lapses if they don't get enough work) which gives employers way more power. The US's fucked up healthcare system is a boon to rapists and abusers.

It does, but its hard to think of any other industry (certainly outside of "entertainment") where everything (the power wielded by them, the insecurity of everyone else and the money flying around on their say-so) appears to be geared to almost encourage the Weinsteins of this world to do what he (they) did.

It is a perfect storm of circumstances, I agree, but it really does happen everywhere to some extent or other.

 

[Casually Red]

The other brother , himself every bit the bully his sibling is, appears to be in the firing line now. Not on the same scale though

The other Weinstein brother is facing his own harassment scandal

Report: Harvey Weinstein's Brother Was 'Abusive,' 'Bully'

Right pair of charmers

 

[8den]

Yep. It's not only women who are initimidated by that kind of behaviour.

Also bear in mind that in the US healthcare for you and your family is usually tied to your job (and for actors etc it's often tied to their union membership, which lapses if they don't get enough work) which gives employers way more power. The US's fucked up healthcare system is a boon to rapists and abusers.



It is a perfect storm of circumstances, I agree, but it really does happen everywhere to some extent or other.

I mentioned earlier in the thread the precarious employment system of the film industry makes not just actors but crew members extremely vulnerable to abuse. With nothing resembling a HR dept on a film set, you can only report your abuse to your direct supervisor (who's also essentially your employer) and hope they do something unless they themselves are the abuser. Seriously if you were on a Weinstein or Miramax film and being sexually harassed, what were you going to do, go to the Producer?

 

[scifisam]

I mentioned earlier in the thread the precarious employment system of the film industry makes not just actors but crew members extremely vulnerable to abuse. With nothing resembling a HR dept on a film set, you can only report your abuse to your direct supervisor (who's also essentially your employer) and hope they do something unless they themselves are the abuser. Seriously if you were on a Weinstein or Miramax film and being sexually harassed, what were you going to do, go to the Producer?

Even more so if you've only heard rumours about it happening to someone else.

 

[Casually Red]

Yep. It's not only women who are initimidated by that kind of behaviour.

The issue of male and boy actors being sexually harassed and abused is coming to the fore now too . If a Hollywood pervert felt empowered enough to sexually molest Terry Crews...of all people..in public, right in front of his wife...the power they hold over everyone...male and female..in that industry has been pretty much unchallengeable . Until now anyway .

In Support Of Terry Crews And Other Men Who've Been Sexually Assaulted — We Need To Stop Gendering Abuse

Rob Schneider reveals he was harassed by famous director | Metro News

 

[Casually Red]

Very unlikely that Weinstein would have tried it on with Malia, but with Weinstein's behavior being such an open secret, maybe the Obamas should have know better than to give him the big PR boost of sending their daughter to intern under him. The presence of Malia was a selling point when another Weinstein internship was auctioned off for $15,000.

Weinstein Co. Internship Auctioned Off: "Maybe Even Run Into Malia Obama"

They spent enough time in showbiz circles that they probably heard a thing or two but laughed it off over the years - I doubt Michelle Obama had to ask "What is he talking about?" when Seth McFarlane joked about Weinstein at the same Oscars where she presented Best Picture.

This close associate and personal freind of the Clintons says she told several senior Democrats about Weinstens depraved antics . Doesn't seem to have been a problem for them . They knew about this at the highest level of the party . It's safe to assume she told the Clintons themselves, she's pretty close to them .

Linda Bloodworth-Thomason: Lessons from Witnessing Four Decades of Harassment in Hollywood (Guest Column)

Her continued defence of Bill Clinton , who's faced multiple rape and sexuall assault allegations , strikes me as well hypocritical though . He's " taxed her feminism " apparently . But not that much .

 

[D'wards]

 

[trashpony]

Enough now? Me Too. Surely we can now see the back of the Harvey Weinsteins

Those who line up to blame A list women for not coming forward, never notice that the women who did come forward never made it to the A list. Either they told and never worked again, or were so traumatised by the experience they didn’t want to. And who were they going to tell? Even men’s careers were ruined as a result. There are heartwarming tales of Emma Thomson and Carrie Fisher standing up for more vulnerable friends because they were powerful enough to do it.

 

[not-bono-ever]

.

 

[Wilf]

Tom Jones says he faced harassment in the music industry
Tom Jones says he faced sexual harassment in the music industry
Not suggesting he hasn't but erm, err, hasn't Tom Jones, erm, err...

 

[belboid]

'high profile men in punk' too, apparently
WOMEN FACING DEFAMATION CASE FOR SPEAKING UP

 

[killer b]

Tom Jones says he faced harassment in the music industry
Tom Jones says he faced sexual harassment in the music industry
Not suggesting he hasn't but erm, err, hasn't Tom Jones, erm, err...

he claimed in an interview a few years ago to have had sex with 250 groupies a year at his peak. No imbalance of power there, is there?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Ah, but he didn’t promise them jobs in the music industry.

 

[Plumdaff]

Corey Haim

Tom Jones says he faced harassment in the music industry
Tom Jones says he faced sexual harassment in the music industry
Not suggesting he hasn't but erm, err, hasn't Tom Jones, erm, err...

Umm, oh dear, err......

 

[Orang Utan]

Richard Gere is worried as hell about the next wave of complainants coming forward and saying 'me too'

 

[8den]

I mentioned earlier in the thread the precarious employment system of the film industry makes not just actors but crew members extremely vulnerable to abuse. With nothing resembling a HR dept on a film set, you can only report your abuse to your direct supervisor (who's also essentially your employer) and hope they do something unless they themselves are the abuser. Seriously if you were on a Weinstein or Miramax film and being sexually harassed, what were you going to do, go to the Producer?

http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/kristen-stewart-brings-up-harassed-below-the-line-employees.html

 

[DaveCinzano]

Tarantino interview in NYT:

Tarantino on Weinstein: ‘I Knew Enough to Do More Than I Did’

 

[Nylock]

Tom Jones says he faced harassment in the music industry
Tom Jones says he faced sexual harassment in the music industry
Not suggesting he hasn't but erm, err, hasn't Tom Jones, erm, err...

'high profile men in punk' too, apparently
WOMEN FACING DEFAMATION CASE FOR SPEAKING UP

The Harvey Weinstein story will be looked back upon as like the sound of the tide suddenly rushing out before the tsunami hits. As bad as the movie industry is, the music industry is easily its equal with regards to depraved monsters in positions of power...

 

[DaveCinzano]

Weinstein's driver:

Harvey Weinstein's chauffeur shares shocking stories of his boss

 

[DaveCinzano]

Tarantino interview in NYT:

Tarantino on Weinstein: ‘I Knew Enough to Do More Than I Did’

Addendum:

 

[Wilf]

Like Savile and other vile slithering things, it's astonishing the amount of time and effort these creatures put into abuse. Seems to be, literally, an everyday thing.