Harvey Weinstein

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was 21, I was living on my own, going to college, working as a waitress.
One of my coworkers was a bit older (29) than me, took me under her wing and invited me out for dinner. She said her and her friends would pick me up. I agreed to go. When the car pulled up I got in. My friend was in the back seat. When her friends turned around to introduce themselves I realized they were men older than my father. In their late 50's. I was startled by this, but thought dinner is harmless I guess. I was naive eager to please my new friend.
It turned out that the gentlemen friends, one was the owner of a big car dealership, and one was one of the biggest lawyers in our city. My 21 year old self was too stupid to see at the time that attorney took to me, and started preying and grooming me throughout the dinner. Dinner was pleasant enough. Afterward they insisted we come to this party with them at some fancy house. I didn't really want to but the consensus was that it would be fun, and they were driving, so I gave in. We got there and it was fine... we ended up in a cigar room inside the house. Talking and having some wine and cigars. Then as in on cue, the room cleared and I was left with the lawyer on my own. He lunged at me and attacked me in word for word the exact description that the Italian actress Asia Argento described. I was shocked this week reading her account of what happened. Other than that I did not massage him with lotion. He pinned me and forcibly performed oral sex on me. Then raped me. I audibly told him no over and over. He was three times my size and not taking no for an answer.

Afterwards I did not know what to do. Who would believe me over him? He tried to pursue me after and offered to buy me a car and pay my rent. I said no to that too.

About 5 years later, he was all over the news for raping a clerk in his legal firm.
He was aquitted and got off of course. Just as I knew would happen. The victim was put through hell in the news and he flexed his muscle and got off Scott free.

I am 38 now and don't think about him often. My husband knows what happened but other than that I did nothing.
The claims in Harvey Weinsteins news articles stir up old memories.

It's a horrible position to be in. I obviously know I could have made better choices but I felt completely helpless in those moments and I completely empathize with the women.

I'm so sorry. I can't hold back my tears. Please tell us how we can help stop this egregious abuse of women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people that control Hollywood and the Media have proved they are all disgusting.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Harvard Law School grad here, and yes, been to many hotel rooms for interviews and doors were closed.

Everything was above board with my interviews. But I agree with the PP that points out that it normalizes the process.

If for some reason I had switched into entertainment and found my young naive self being asked to go up to interview in HW's room, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. Especially since in Hollywood, everyone is ducking the fans and the paparazzi, and potential deals are secret.

The point is that predators don't target the powerful or the street-smart; they sniff out the weak--in this case the non-connected, totally unsuspecting, naive person who is so surprised and freaked out that odds are, she can't quickly think her way out of that situation. Usually these people are young. Listening to that tape, listening to that woman sounding like a frightened child--not strong--confirms to him that he's got the right prey, and the dialog is basically him saying "get in my trap." What an evil person.

Yale does it too. It's sleazy. We used to joke about it. But only because no one really thought anything would happen ... but of course when you joke, on some level you're acknowledging the possibility. I never had any problems and never heard of any, but it wouldn't shock if me if somewhere, someone had a problem, because the conditions are ripe for that.

[Anonymous]

Does Harvey seriously think an Arizona rehab will save him from prison, because "Everyone makes mistakes"?

What an entitled bastard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you know how difficult it is to put a stop to this stuff?

I’ve been aware for a year that a senior executive at my company comes onto junior women on a regular basis. I’ve flagged it to management multiple times. A handful of them (both inside and outside the company) have complained.

The result? He’s been warned twice. Yet the behavior continues. Short of shaming him publicly via the internet, what else can be done?

Can you please shame him publicly on the internet and post the link here. You have to start some where. Otherwise you become complicit. Like that Affleck guy (just kidding), but still, post and shame.

DP here, and are you kidding? That's a perfect way to get fired and also sued for libel. And never to work in the industry again. There is a high cost to reporting this stuff and although it's easy to say "you have a moral obligation, do it," the person reporting still has to live in the real world, with a family to support, loans to pay, etc. Victims make the same calculation. There are very few people who are not "complicit" at something, on some level.

[Anonymous]

I really hope this is a turning point.

Like with Cosby, the knives have only come out now that he has lost his power but better late than never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope this is a turning point.

Like with Cosby, the knives have only come out now that he has lost his power but better late than never.

It's not a turning point. This will keep happening, because the price to tell the truth about what happened to you is still too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hope this is a turning point.

Like with Cosby, the knives have only come out now that he has lost his power but better late than never.

It's not a turning point. This will keep happening, because the price to tell the truth about what happened to you is still too high.

Why not DEMAND an industry-wide federal investigation??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hope this is a turning point.

Like with Cosby, the knives have only come out now that he has lost his power but better late than never.

It's not a turning point. This will keep happening, because the price to tell the truth about what happened to you is still too high.

Why not DEMAND an industry-wide federal investigation??

Do we know for sure that this isn't just confined (for the most part) to Harvey Weinstein? Were other movie producers the subject of jokes during the Oscars or referenced on shows like "Entourage"? Should we limit any federal investigation to Hollywood or should Fox News be investigated as well, given the allegations against Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reiily?

[Anonymous]

I don't think that this will affect things in the grand scheme.. Americans have a short attention span.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was 21, I was living on my own, going to college, working as a waitress.
One of my coworkers was a bit older (29) than me, took me under her wing and invited me out for dinner. She said her and her friends would pick me up. I agreed to go. When the car pulled up I got in. My friend was in the back seat. When her friends turned around to introduce themselves I realized they were men older than my father. In their late 50's. I was startled by this, but thought dinner is harmless I guess. I was naive eager to please my new friend.
It turned out that the gentlemen friends, one was the owner of a big car dealership, and one was one of the biggest lawyers in our city. My 21 year old self was too stupid to see at the time that attorney took to me, and started preying and grooming me throughout the dinner. Dinner was pleasant enough. Afterward they insisted we come to this party with them at some fancy house. I didn't really want to but the consensus was that it would be fun, and they were driving, so I gave in. We got there and it was fine... we ended up in a cigar room inside the house. Talking and having some wine and cigars. Then as in on cue, the room cleared and I was left with the lawyer on my own. He lunged at me and attacked me in word for word the exact description that the Italian actress Asia Argento described. I was shocked this week reading her account of what happened. Other than that I did not massage him with lotion. He pinned me and forcibly performed oral sex on me. Then raped me. I audibly told him no over and over. He was three times my size and not taking no for an answer.

Afterwards I did not know what to do. Who would believe me over him? He tried to pursue me after and offered to buy me a car and pay my rent. I said

About 5 years later, he was all over the news for raping a clerk in his legal firm.
He was aquitted and got off of course. Just as I knew would happen. The victim was put through hell in the news and he flexed his muscle and got off Scott free.

I am 38 now and don't think about him often. My husband knows what happened but other than that I did nothing.
The claims in Harvey Weinsteins news articles stir up old memories.

It's a horrible position to be in. I obviously know I could have made better choices but I felt completely helpless in those moments and I completely empathize with the women.

This is awful. I am so sorry. It was not your fault.

The world will never know how many women have been subjected to similar assaults. It's sickening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 21, I was living on my own, going to college, working as a waitress.
One of my coworkers was a bit older (29) than me, took me under her wing and invited me out for dinner. She said her and her friends would pick me up. I agreed to go. When the car pulled up I got in. My friend was in the back seat. When her friends turned around to introduce themselves I realized they were men older than my father. In their late 50's. I was startled by this, but thought dinner is harmless I guess. I was naive eager to please my new friend.
It turned out that the gentlemen friends, one was the owner of a big car dealership, and one was one of the biggest lawyers in our city. My 21 year old self was too stupid to see at the time that attorney took to me, and started preying and grooming me throughout the dinner. Dinner was pleasant enough. Afterward they insisted we come to this party with them at some fancy house. I didn't really want to but the consensus was that it would be fun, and they were driving, so I gave in. We got there and it was fine... we ended up in a cigar room inside the house. Talking and having some wine and cigars. Then as in on cue, the room cleared and I was left with the lawyer on my own. He lunged at me and attacked me in word for word the exact description that the Italian actress Asia Argento described. I was shocked this week reading her account of what happened. Other than that I did not massage him with lotion. He pinned me and forcibly performed oral sex on me. Then raped me. I audibly told him no over and over. He was three times my size and not taking no for an answer.

Afterwards I did not know what to do. Who would believe me over him? He tried to pursue me after and offered to buy me a car and pay my rent. I said

About 5 years later, he was all over the news for raping a clerk in his legal firm.
He was aquitted and got off of course. Just as I knew would happen. The victim was put through hell in the news and he flexed his muscle and got off Scott free.

I am 38 now and don't think about him often. My husband knows what happened but other than that I did nothing.
The claims in Harvey Weinsteins news articles stir up old memories.

It's a horrible position to be in. I obviously know I could have made better choices but I felt completely helpless in those moments and I completely empathize with the women.

This is awful. I am so sorry. It was not your fault.

The world will never know how many women have been subjected to similar assaults. It's sickening.

Thank you. I have always felt like it was my fault. I should have done this or that. I should have gone with my gut and said this is weird, why are we hanging out with these old men, and left.

Then I felt it all over again when he surfaced in the news having done the same to another person. I wrestled with coming forward then to back her story. But I felt like I'd have no credibility and he'd eat me alive in court.
I felt like maybe if I had been strong enough to speak up and press charges initially, maybe she would have been spared. I chose to do neither. I felt and still feel like nothing I would have done would have mattered.
Ironically he's been in the news again recently for defending a high profile sexual assault case in our area. Of course he is defending the accused... and who knows better how to get away with being a predator, than him.

[Anonymous]

How exactly are our children getting raised wrong, to grow up and become part of this sick sexual nightmare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
How exactly are our children getting raised wrong, to grow up and become part of this sick sexual nightmare?

Have you seen the documentary film, The Hunting Ground? (about rape on American college campuses)

It is horrifying.

This problem is in every industry, not just the movie business with cliche casting call couches... it's in sport culture, high profile executives, politicians.
I do not know how it can be stopped. I do know I cringe when I see people making cutesy comments about a little boy being a stud, a heart-breaker, "boys will be boys" when they are raising macho predator assholes.
I think it starts there. And with gender gap equality.

[Anonymous]

I love all the empty piling on, yet none of these "brave" actresses will name ANYONE else. There are hundreds of big time execs, producers, directors, talent scouts, photographers that act just like Harvey. All these phony actresses are a bunch of self-serving narcissists.