written by Juan Ayala
Plain and simple: Harvey Weinstein is a despicable human being. He isn't a sex addict, he's a predator. He's a power hungry, manipulative, disgusting excuse of a leader. He doesn't need to go to rehabilitation, he belongs in a jail cell for all the harm he has caused, for all of the women he's harassed and assaulted and forced to stay silent. The ones that did speak up, he either paid off or practically ruined their careers by discrediting them and spreading false rumors about their work ethic to the rest of the industry.
Luckily, he's been as discredited in every way possible. He’s been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He’s been fired from the Weinstein Company, which he was the co-founder. His wife was so distraught from the scandal that she left him. Dozens of actresses have come forth to tell horror stories about his sexual misconduct, harassment and in some cases, rape. Those who have come forward, some of whom have spoken out previously and practically gone ignored, include Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow among others.
With the reputation the Weinstein Company plummeting and their future in limbo, several projects under their name have been pushed back, put on hold or cancelled altogether. The upcoming biopic drama The Current War, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon, originally had a release date for Thanksgiving weekend, but has been postponed to an unknown date in 2018. The co-creators of Broadway hit In the Heights have pulled their film adaptation of the musical from the company as well in light of the scandal. Amazon has also scrapped a planned Weinstein Co. series starring Robert DeNiro and Julianne Moore, directed by Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell.
Plain and simple: Harvey Weinstein is a despicable human being. He isn't a sex addict, he's a predator. He's a power hungry, manipulative, disgusting excuse of a leader. He doesn't need to go to rehabilitation, he belongs in a jail cell for all the harm he has caused, for all of the women he's harassed and assaulted and forced to stay silent. The ones that did speak up, he either paid off or practically ruined their careers by discrediting them and spreading false rumors about their work ethic to the rest of the industry.
Luckily, he's been as discredited in every way possible. He’s been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He’s been fired from the Weinstein Company, which he was the co-founder. His wife was so distraught from the scandal that she left him. Dozens of actresses have come forth to tell horror stories about his sexual misconduct, harassment and in some cases, rape. Those who have come forward, some of whom have spoken out previously and practically gone ignored, include Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow among others.
With the reputation the Weinstein Company plummeting and their future in limbo, several projects under their name have been pushed back, put on hold or cancelled altogether. The upcoming biopic drama The Current War, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon, originally had a release date for Thanksgiving weekend, but has been postponed to an unknown date in 2018. The co-creators of Broadway hit In the Heights have pulled their film adaptation of the musical from the company as well in light of the scandal. Amazon has also scrapped a planned Weinstein Co. series starring Robert DeNiro and Julianne Moore, directed by Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell.
There really isn’t much to say on the matter other than this behavior
in any industry, in the history of
ever, should be tolerated. Weinstein took advantage of his power and status to
prey on young actresses for sex or sexual favors in exchange for stardom. There
is nothing okay with that. So many of these women were afraid to come forward
in fear of having their careers destroyed, or out of fear of being ridiculed
and humiliated. In 2015, Italian model Ambra Gutierrez reported that Weinstein
had touched her inappropriately and she was labeled a blackmailer and
opportunity by the media.
What is most upsetting is that because of this fear instilled in
Weinstein’s victims, they may never receive justice. Yes, he’s been discredited
and practically black listed in the entertainment industry, but some of these
accusations are decades old, in court would be considered hearsay and there is
no solid evidence other than testimonies from the victims. It’s also a trend in
Hollywood for privileged punishments for those in power. An everyday man busted
for drug possession could get several years in prison while a celebrity gets a
slap on the wrist and court-ordered rehab.
I want to emphasize two things. One, Weinstein’s behavior, and that of
many other powerful industry executives who have been doing this for decades is
disgusting and unacceptable and pathetic. The ‘casting couch’ is a decades-old
method in Hollywood. It’s not a joking matter. Two, women who have ever been
harassed or assaulted in any way: you are not alone. I can’t even begin to
imagine what you’ve gone through. The #MeToo campaign has broken my heart,
seeing how many incredible women that I’ve worked with and known and loved for
years have gone through horrific experiences of harassment or assault, and I
had no idea. We will listen. We will believe you. Talk to someone, anyone,
about what you’ve gone through, at your own time and pace of course. And
believe that you are enough. You are so enough. It is unbelievable how enough
you are.