Allegations against Harvey Weinstein

[whitewave]

HW kicked oit the Academy today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-Harvey-Weinstein-s-membership.html#comments

"'We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over.'"

 

[PintoBean]

He needs to be hung up by his dangly bits

Do your balls hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier?
Do your balls...hang...low?!

 

[kenny]

What he did was horrible.

The level of attention all this is getting is excellent.
Hopefully this will be a turning point and men in entertainment/politics/business/everywhere will stop thinking they have some ENTITLEMENT to the bodies of the women around them.

Hopefully all this will motivate HR departments to call 911 (like the Catholic Church does now ) and put these scumbags in jail and make women feel safe speaking up.

 

[stracci2000]

I am shocked at the women coming forward and their stories of sexual abuse from him.
Of course, some (mostly men) will sneer and say "Why didn't they all come forward sooner?"
Men don't understand, because this doesn't typically happen to them.
I would venture to say that most of us women have experienced this very thing at sometime in our lives.
I know I did, with several bosses. When I was 21, a new boss came into the office, and he cornered me and said suggestive things to me whenever he could. What could I do? He was the boss. Did I want to start trouble with the boss? Who could I even report him to? This was an independent business. I would just avoid him as much as possible, all the while being nice and polite, as I was taught to be with elders.

This scenario happened again and again to me in the workplace. I was groped by another boss in the break room. I avoided that man for years, until he retired.
Even now, another former boss, who I run into from time to time, makes sure he looks me up and down, and sometimes makes some coy comment to me. I just tell him to stop it. He doesn't care, he thinks he's hot. What a jerk.

Once, while in a retail situation, I was on my knees, working on a low shelf, and a young man, a customer in the establishment, made a comment to me about oral sex!
I stood up and said "Why are you saying this to me? How dare you speak to me this way! Do you think this is OK? What's your problem?" He apologized and quickly ran off. I was so mad.

Why do men think they can do this to us? Have we suffered in silence for so long, that they think we are OK with this kind of treatment? At least now, we have some recourse, as sexual abuse is clearly unacceptable in the workplace these days. But all situations are different. Sometimes, we feel it is easier to bear the abuse, rather than be labeled a bitch, or lose our jobs.

I am happy that Weinstein finally has been exposed for disrespecting and sexually abusing so many young women. Hopefully he will be ruined and have to leave Hollywood.

 

[MollyMalone]

A diamond-related report:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial...-brand-falls-victim-to-the-weinstein-scandal/

 

[kenny]

A diamond-related report:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial...-brand-falls-victim-to-the-weinstein-scandal/

It wasn't his wife's fault.
Stupid, shortsighted, and unfair!

 

[canuk-gal]

Hi:

Weinstein is a brand. At a price, their products are on our screens/and in our homes and most likey we didn't know it. It is ubiquitous.

Yet, allegations of victims narratives of events in long standing including sordid behavior of predatory, aggressive, violent, sexual harassment has gone (mostly) unchecked or entirely dismissed--so much so you'd think it occurred in a vacuum.

Well how can that be? With so much influence in the HUGE market and machine that is Hollywood (ubiquity), how can Weinstein be behaving inappropriately everywhere but behavior not be unchecked (live in a vacuum).

Seems ironic to me.

Men and women in the big Hollywood supply chain were employed to keep the Weinstein machine running which (I surmise) included managing his time, appointments and contacts. Yet, in all this time, only in the last week has anyone spoke up about incidents that have been uncomfortable: silent were general employees, assistants, agents, directors, producers, actors, or or or or. Living in a vacuum?

Women actors might have been the major target of his unwanted sexual interference but you cannot imagine that men did not experience the other kinds of aggressive, raging, or bullying behavior. Where are their stories? Moreover, Men that are Hollywood "elite" and Hollywood royalty" why did they not speak up or intervene?

cheers--Sharon

 

[valeria101]

Of course I have my stories ...

I keep looking for what the current males in the relevant women's wives have to say - with expectations not fit to print.

 

[OreoRosies86]

Hi:

Weinstein is a brand. At a price, their products are on our screens/and in our homes and most likey we didn't know it. It is ubiquitous.

Yet, allegations of victims narratives of events in long standing including sordid behavior of predatory, aggressive, violent, sexual harassment has gone (mostly) unchecked or entirely dismissed--so much so you'd think it occurred in a vacuum.

Well how can that be? With so much influence in the HUGE market and machine that is Hollywood (ubiquity), how can Weinstein be behaving inappropriately everywhere but behavior not be unchecked (live in a vacuum).

Seems ironic to me.

Men and women in the big Hollywood supply chain were employed to keep the Weinstein machine running which (I surmise) included managing his time, appointments and contacts. Yet, in all this time, only in the last week has anyone spoke up about incidents that have been uncomfortable: silent were general employees, assistants, agents, directors, producers, actors, or or or or. Living in a vacuum?

Women actors might have been the major target of his unwanted sexual interference but you cannot imagine that men did not experience the other kinds of aggressive, raging, or bullying behavior. Where are their stories? Moreover, Men that are Hollywood "elite" and Hollywood royalty" why did they not speak up or intervene?

cheers--Sharon

Corey Feldman has been vocal about the abuse he and others suffered as children and into adulthood, and was met with shame and ridicule 99% of the time. Barbara Walters accused him of trying to "ruin the industry" during a very forthcoming interview on national television. When he would cite victimization by pedophiles as a factor in a friend's suicide he was reminded that his best friend "struggled with addiction too" (gee I wonder why?).

 

[ksinger]

Hi:

Weinstein is a brand. At a price, their products are on our screens/and in our homes and most likey we didn't know it. It is ubiquitous.

Yet, allegations of victims narratives of events in long standing including sordid behavior of predatory, aggressive, violent, sexual harassment has gone (mostly) unchecked or entirely dismissed--so much so you'd think it occurred in a vacuum.

Well how can that be? With so much influence in the HUGE market and machine that is Hollywood (ubiquity), how can Weinstein be behaving inappropriately everywhere but behavior not be unchecked (live in a vacuum).

Seems ironic to me.

Men and women in the big Hollywood supply chain were employed to keep the Weinstein machine running which (I surmise) included managing his time, appointments and contacts. Yet, in all this time, only in the last week has anyone spoke up about incidents that have been uncomfortable: silent were general employees, assistants, agents, directors, producers, actors, or or or or. Living in a vacuum?

Women actors might have been the major target of his unwanted sexual interference but you cannot imagine that men did not experience the other kinds of aggressive, raging, or bullying behavior. Where are their stories? Moreover, Men that are Hollywood "elite" and Hollywood royalty" why did they not speak up or intervene?

cheers--Sharon

A friend who is originally from a state near Oklahoma, used to work in film, radio, stand up comedy - still does some radio. He told us just last night, that what used to happen when he was young, was that someone would advertise photo shoot/portfolio building to the aspiring young. Then once they were in to the sessions, they would be drugged, and then shot in pornos. So, you wake up, and career aspirations over, because there you are in a porno. Our friend never got caught in these, because, well, you'd have to know him. First generation son of Irish immigrants - most of the family were either priests or nuns. Not by family members, but he had early experiences with "attempts" by some other unrelated priests that he didn't accept - rather loudly, in public. Some funny stories, actually. When you think of "fighting Irish", he is what I see. Anyway, he also said that he and so many others could have gone further if they'd been willing to do sexual things for the powerful. He said so many wildly talented people - many of them male - never make it because of that unwillingness. Rings true.

 

[Calliecake]

Surely you have heard of the good ole boys network @canuk-gal

Harvey Weinstein is a predator. I have no doubt there were many men in Hollywood who knew what he was doing and turned a blind eye. I doubt Weinstein is the only man in his position that acted similarly, maybe just not to the extend Weinstein acted. I'm actually surprised we aren't hearing of others in Hollywood now that the Weinstein lid has been lifted. Powerful men sometimes feel entitled no matter what their profession is.

All you have to do is read Rose McGowan's tweets and it's easy to see she was deeply affected by what Harvey Weinstein did to her.

You mentioned men not coming forward with stories of being bullied. I've seen men be bullied in business and not one of them would ever make a big deal out of it because they too were making lots of money. Trust me if I would have ever said anything about it or tried to make a big deal out of it, they would have banded together like a pack of thieves.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I am so disgusted by this man. I listened to the statement his brother made about him. So telling. It is a sad state of things in this world that it takes this much to remove someone from power who is so abusive. It happens all the time, whether it be in business or in government. Human hearts are desperately evil.

 

[kenny]

... I'm actually surprised we aren't hearing of others in Hollywood now that the Weinstein lid has been lifted. ...

This thing could snowball.
Hopefully it will and more and more women, and men, will feel less personal risk by coming forward to report harassment, abuse and rape.

 

[House Cat]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/mayim-bialik-feminist-harvey-weinstein.html

I find Mayim's piece so offensive, I don't really know where to start.

I'm not sure I can even articulate what I'm feeling yet. I think I'll post it and comment later.

 

[whitewave]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/mayim-bialik-feminist-harvey-weinstein.html

I find Mayim's piece so offensive, I don't really know where to start.

I'm not sure I can even articulate what I'm feeling yet. I think I'll post it and comment later.

I'll look forward to your comments because I don't see anything offensive on the first read.

 

[telephone89]

I believe what HC is referring to is her notion that if you don't flirt, dress conservatively, don't wear makeup or get manicures (???) that you won't be assaulted.

 

[House Cat]

I have somewhere to be...in the briefest of terms, there is an undertone, no, overtone of victim blaming...pretty girl blaming...in her piece. Apparently, if you dress modestly and are ugly, you are rape-proof and if you are attractive and show cleavage, you are responsible for your own sexual assault?

The piece is myopic, lacks empathy and insight, and does great harm.

 

[House Cat]

I believe what HC is referring to is her notion that if you don't flirt, dress conservatively, don't wear makeup or get manicures (???) that you won't be assaulted.

Thank you.

 

[whitewave]

Ok, yes! I see that now.

Like there is such a thing as "rape proof"

 

[Matata]

I'm waiting for the national conversation to turn from the fact that sexual harassment is pervasive to what are we going to do about it. I want to see us raise girls to be strong women who have been taught in no uncertain terms what harassment is and what they must (not should) do about it. I want to see young girls raised to be strong women with strong voices who are not afraid to speak out about their personal experiences with harassers. I want to see a justice system that harshly penalizes people who sexually harass others.

I am angry at and frustrated by the hollywood actresses who had encounters with Weinstein and said they kept quiet because they were afraid for their careers. It's despicable to me that they chose to dehumanize themselves for the sake of the chance at stardom. It sends a message to women and sets an example for everyone that damages all of us. I want to see young girls raised to become women whose worth, in their eyes, is priceless and who will take the chance that their careers may suffer if they step forward. I want to see us raise young girls to be women who will not settle for being less than.

 

[telephone89]

@Matata have you seen the #howIwillchange posts? They are very inspired.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/how-i-will-change?utm_term=.wf8d9z3yq#.yj162yR4v

My favourite one wasn't posted on this one, but it was something like "realize that if Im a bystander, I'm accepting of these acts. I will not stand by in silence". It made this person realize that even if they themselves aren't harassing someone, they are witness to it, and by doing nothing, condoning it.

eta - basically I agree with you, but we can't put all the pressure on women and girls. Men need to stand up and realize what they/their friends/random people are doing wrong and speak out about it as well. Unfortunately, men listen better to men. And we need men to have our backs.

 

[Matata]

@telephone89, I neglected to address the other side of the issue. We need to raise boys to be respectful and become men who are diligent in filtering their words and actions among many other things. I don't consider raising women to be strong and vocal about harassment to be putting pressure on them. It is one factor needed in breaking the victimization cycle on both sides. Men and women are equally responsible to make change happen and we all need to have each other's backs.

 

[ksinger]

I'm waiting for the national conversation to turn from the fact that sexual harassment is pervasive to what are we going to do about it. I want to see us raise girls to be strong women who have been taught in no uncertain terms what harassment is and what they must (not should) do about it. I want to see young girls raised to be strong women with strong voices who are not afraid to speak out about their personal experiences with harassers. I want to see a justice system that harshly penalizes people who sexually harass others.

I am angry at and frustrated by the hollywood actresses who had encounters with Weinstein and said they kept quiet because they were afraid for their careers. It's despicable to me that they chose to dehumanize themselves for the sake of the chance at stardom. It sends a message to women and sets an example for everyone that damages all of us. I want to see young girls raised to become women whose worth, in their eyes, is priceless and who will take the chance that their careers may suffer if they step forward. I want to see us raise young girls to be women who will not settle for being less than.

Yikes, that's harsh. Especially since it was the holding out until the power balance was not so skewed, that enabled those despicable successful powerful actresses to speak together and actually be heard. Yeah, I wish they'd have done it earlier, but I'm not going to judge them for how they dealt with it, or parse their reasons as worthy or not, down to a gnat's ass.

I wish the world was different too - I would love to see all the things you want to see - but it's not. Yet. And it's got to start somewhere, doesn't it? Women slagging the women who finally came out about the abuse, as despicable because their reasons for waiting or not speaking aren't deemed worthy on some high-minded willing-to-walk-away-from-a-career scale, doesn't actually help either. It sends a message to women too, and not a good one. Speak out, get judged harshly by other women. We really are just not kind to each other, are we?

So much for sisterhood.

 

[ksinger]

I found this piece thought-provoking.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/16/opinions/me-too-mayim-bialik-kate-maltby-opinion/index.html

 

[House Cat]

I'm waiting for the national conversation to turn from the fact that sexual harassment is pervasive to what are we going to do about it. I want to see us raise girls to be strong women who have been taught in no uncertain terms what harassment is and what they must (not should) do about it. I want to see young girls raised to be strong women with strong voices who are not afraid to speak out about their personal experiences with harassers. I want to see a justice system that harshly penalizes people who sexually harass others.

I am angry at and frustrated by the hollywood actresses who had encounters with Weinstein and said they kept quiet because they were afraid for their careers. It's despicable to me that they chose to dehumanize themselves for the sake of the chance at stardom. It sends a message to women and sets an example for everyone that damages all of us. I want to see young girls raised to become women whose worth, in their eyes, is priceless and who will take the chance that their careers may suffer if they step forward. I want to see us raise young girls to be women who will not settle for being less than.

I want to get this right..

You're angry with the sexual assault victims for handling their attacks in the best way that they could at the time?

Take Hollywood out of it. They are human beings.

And just to clarify, THEY did not choose to dehumanize THEMSELVES. They were dehumanized by their attacker.

 

[Bonfire]

I want to get this right..

You're angry with the sexual assault victims for handling their attacks in the best way that they could at the time?

Take Hollywood out of it. They are human beings.

And just to clarify, THEY did not choose to dehumanize THEMSELVES. They were dehumanized by their attacker.

Absolutely they were dehumanized by their abuser. Absolutely they are being preyed upon by men in power. This abuse goes back decades and decades (read Shirley Temple Blacks’ book. Damn she was just a child!)
Most of these women accepted the payoff, whether it was money or career advancement (I'm just referring to Hollywood now obviously ). It grew so big and commonplace in the industry, because of the sexism and power play for one, but how many of these women (not blaming) left or walked away? Silence is a scourge. This crap is so prevalent throughout our society and it has. to. stop. but not if we stay silent or take the payoff! We can’t be complicit in our own abuse anymore! And most importantly, we need to support each other as women, all women. If we can’t how can we expect to enact change?

 

[Matata]

I want to get this right..

You're angry with the sexual assault victims for handling their attacks in the best way that they could at the time?

Take Hollywood out of it. They are human beings.

And just to clarify, THEY did not choose to dehumanized THEMSELVES. They were dehumanized by their attacker.

I figured this would cause a sh*tstorm. I'm not talking about those vulnerable young women who were preyed upon who didn't know what to do and who were scared spitless for their emotional and physical safety. I'm talking about the ones -- there are 3 so far -- don't ask me who because I skipped over their names when I saw the content of their quoted statements -- who did not speak about being scared, feeling helpless because of what was done to them. They only said they knew if they spoke out it would be the end of their careers. They put potential for fame above self and I think that is despicable.

#MeToo. Not only was I sexually harassed more times than I can count (suggestive comments, oogle eyes etc), I was also sexually assaulted a few times in the workplace (touched/grabbed), by powerful men who were like teflon dons, nothing bad ever stuck to them. The first time I was assaulted, I kept silent and quit the job -- I was 19 years old. The 2nd time (20 yrs old), I got mad and fought back and each time after that I fought back and didn't stop fighting until each of those men were fired. I refused to accept that they were breaking the law and I was the one who had to either suck it up or move on.

And when I was in a professional position to fight for those who were sexually harassed I did so without regard to the effect it would have on my career because, for me, it was the right thing to do and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do for others what I expected others to do for me. I took down a lot of professionals who abused their authority. Heard all of the sickening reasons why someone should be allowed to resign rather than be fired -- "it'll ruin his reputation/career," "it'll ruin our reputation if people find out about this," "people will come out of the woodwork and sue the crap out of us," "he didn't mean any harm and he's sorry, let's give him a 2nd chance" (this was said to me by the the female president of the org about my supervisor who would masturbate to pictures of his teenage daughter when he knew female staff members would be coming into his office). People throughout the org (male and female) accused me of trying to get rid of him so I could have his job. After his computer was seized and child **** found on it, some of those same people said I sabotaged his computer. One of those people was a woman who wanted my job.

You can accuse me of high-minded ideals as ksinger did, you can erroneously think I'm victim blaming, you can say that I shouldn't expect other women to fight back as I did and point out the millions of reasons why women don't/can't fight back. So flame away but remember that we are entitled to our opinions, people vary, and there may be a modicum of truth in things we find repugnant to our personal beliefs.

 

[House Cat]

Absolutely they were dehumanized by their abuser. Absolutely they are being preyed upon by men in power. This abuse goes back decades and decades (read Shirley Temple Blacks’ book. Damn she was just a child!)
Most of these women accepted the payoff, whether it was money or career advancement (I'm just referring to Hollywood now obviously ). It grew so big and commonplace in the industry, because of the sexism and power play for one, but how many of these women (not blaming) left or walked away? Silence is a scourge. This crap is so prevalent throughout our society and it has. to. stop. but not if we stay silent or take the payoff! We can’t be complicit in our own abuse anymore! And most importantly, we need to support each other as women, all women. If we can’t how can we expect to enact change?

It seems that you have carefully worded these women's jobs as "accepting a payoff," by doing so, you participate in victim blaming and you support the rapists....even when you wrap your words in "absolutely these rapists are terrible."

You are not supporting all women if you think it is ok to hold the women of Hollywood to some unrealistic standard. If you want to enact change, do it. Do it at your work place. Raise good boys. Raise a bad ass for a daughter. But most of all, stop blaming ALL sexual assault victims for being assaulted and for how they handle their assaults after the fact. This is the biggest problem that keeps sexual assault victims from coming forward. Don't you see? Victim blaming and lack of support.

When a person is sexually assaulted, immediately, their psychology is changed. Immediately, they feel responsible, worthless, and POWERLESS, among other things. The act of sexual assault alone does this to a person.

Then you are asking this person who has gone through such a horrific trauma to somehow stand up for themselves against...

The whole world? Everyone.. Everyone who is going to accuse them of being money hungry, liars, power hungry, sluts, etc? You are asking them to do this on the public stage.

All while they are just trying to heal from being traumatized in one of the worst possible ways.

They are only women. Trauma is personal. People will react to trauma in many different ways. Those women don't owe anyone a single thing.

 

[House Cat]

I figured this would cause a sh*tstorm. I'm not talking about those vulnerable young women who were preyed upon who didn't know what to do and who were scared spitless for their emotional and physical safety. I'm talking about the ones -- there are 3 so far -- don't ask me who because I skipped over their names when I saw the content of their quoted statements -- who did not speak about being scared, feeling helpless because of what was done to them. They only said they knew if they spoke out it would be the end of their careers. They put potential for fame above self and I think that is despicable.

#MeToo. Not only was I sexually harassed more times than I can count (suggestive comments, oogle eyes etc), I was also sexually assaulted a few times in the workplace (touched/grabbed), by powerful men who were like teflon dons, nothing bad ever stuck to them. The first time I was assaulted, I kept silent and quit the job -- I was 19 years old. The 2nd time (20 yrs old), I got mad and fought back and each time after that I fought back and didn't stop fighting until each of those men were fired. I refused to accept that they were breaking the law and I was the one who had to either suck it up or move on.

And when I was in a professional position to fight for those who were sexually harassed I did so without regard to the effect it would have on my career because, for me, it was the right thing to do and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do for others what I expected others to do for me. I took down a lot of professionals who abused their authority. Heard all of the sickening reasons why someone should be allowed to resign rather than be fired -- "it'll ruin his reputation/career," "it'll ruin our reputation if people find out about this," "people will come out of the woodwork and sue the crap out of us," "he didn't mean any harm and he's sorry, let's give him a 2nd chance" (this was said to me by the the female president of the org about my supervisor who would masturbate to pictures of his teenage daughter when he knew female staff members would be coming into his office). People throughout the org (male and female) accused me of trying to get rid of him so I could have his job. After his computer was seized and child **** found on it, some of those same people said I sabotaged his computer. One of those people was a woman who wanted my job.

You can accuse me of high-minded ideals as ksinger did, you can erroneously think I'm victim blaming, you can say that I shouldn't expect other women to fight back as I did and point out the millions of reasons why women don't/can't fight back. So flame away but remember that we are entitled to our opinions, people vary, and there is always a modicum of truth in things we find repugnant to our personal beliefs.

I love the #metoo hashtag Matata but felt really sad at the same time because my story is too much for people to want to hear. I could'nt participate.

I want to say that I admire your bravery and thank you.

But I hope that maybe you can extend some understanding to some of the women who have maybe endured other acts that might have affected them in different ways. I can tell you that the way my rape has affected me makes no logical sense whatsoever. For example, when I saw the rapist last year, 20 years after the fact, he's a tiny twit of a man, but I was afraid for my life. It didn't matter that I had my husband, a 6'3" Marine sitting right next to me. My therapist says once someone does something like that to you, they make you feel powerless.

I think we confuse Hollywood money or fame for a sense of power or self esteem but I'm not convinced that the people of Hollywood are pillars of either. I'm not convinced that these women, after sustaining an attack felt strong enough to publicly fight and prove she had been raped or assaulted.

I'll never know what makes up a total person. It's always that ongoing argument of "well if I can do it, so can they." I just know that there had to be something inside of you that gave you the strength and the fire to stand up for yourself and others. For other people, that idea is terrifying. Actually, we are learning, that for most, that idea is terrifying. Since nothing is changing about the men, maybe it's time we create a safer environment for the victims to come forward no matter what their circumstances or timeline.

 

[Bonfire]

Matata, we all have these stories believe me! And they shape our lives and our opinions. We all need to come together for our daughters and granddaughters. We need to stop accusing each other. Men prey on this crap too! Women’s “cattiness.” We need to stand together stronger and not undermine each other. Hell yes we all have our options! But I think this is something we can all come out unified on.