It started as one man.. now it’s a spotlight on the world
Harvey’s depravity launched the sea-change in approach to abuse
While Hollywood’s glitterati gathered at the Oscars, Harvey Weinstein looked on from his Arizona hideout.
For decades, the millionaire mega-producer had attended the Academy Awards as the film industry’s God-like powerbroker, who was adored by A-list stars.
But this year, after allegations of sexual misconduct, rape and blackmail by more than 80 women, Weinstein found himself a pariah in Los Angeles, New York and London where he once held court.
And in his usual place on the Dolby Theatre stage stood some of his accusers, Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, receiving a standing ovation.
This week marks six months since the scandal exploded, after the New York Times reported that the lesser-known actress Rose Mcgowan had been part of a settlement involving Weinstein.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale, Cara Delevingne, and Jennifer Lawrence were among dozens of names who broke their silence to speak out against him.
“I want to see him in jail,” said Oscar winner Ms Lawrence.
Meanwhile, Lysette Anthony, now in Hollyoaks, became one of several Brits to accuse him of rape, sparking a criminal investigation, and his denial of any criminal wrongdoing.
Soon more names were under the spotlight as the #Metoo and Time’s Up movements erupted.
Kevin Spacey, James Franco, producer Brett Ratner, Ed Westwick, Dustin Hoffman, Jeremy Piven, Steven Seagal, Charlie Sheen and Woody Allen were accused, though they all deny wrongdoing.
But six months down the line, many women’s rights supporters have welcomed how it is not just changing Hollywood but every industry.
In Briatin, Westminster was hit by a sex scandal, the music industry is under scrutiny as are offices across Ireland and Britain.
Samantha Rennie is executive director of Rosa UK, a beneficiary of Time’s Up money raised in Britain, and she believes the past six months has been a tremendous leap forward for women.
She says: “Here we are, 100 years on from the vote and we’re still fighting the same old battle in many cases, with women’s voices often sidelined and ignored.
“Yet this scandal has brought many of the issues which blight women’s lives out of the shadows.
“Clearly, a lot of women in the entertainment industry are very privileged, but they have used this opportunity to point to how this issue affects all women. Half of all women have been sexually assaulted or harassed at work.
“There are some promising signs that this scandal has given a voice to some women who struggled to make themselves heard before.
“We’ve dealt with the violence for too long — and we’ll never go back to that.”
Prof Jonathan Shalit OBE, founder of the Intertalent agency, agrees such behaviour will never be brushed under the carpet again.
He says: “The outing of Weinstein has made sure it is going to be a lot harder for those people who do behave in an underhand and unprofessional way to continue doing so.”
While no formal charges have
been brought against Weinstein, he is all but convicted in the court of public opinion. And British authorities led the way in the
investigations into sexual misconduct. In the UK, nine women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault against him. Across the Atlantic, the LAPD referred three potential criminal cases to the district attorney. Also, he faces additional civil lawsuits, including one filed by the British actress Kadian Noble, who is suing him for sex trafficking and an action against the Weinstein Company for conspiring to cover up his alleged serial sexual misconduct.
Met police are also looking into three allegations of sexual assault by House Of Cards’ star Spacey, who came out as gay after being accused of making a sexual advance on TV star Anthony Rapp when he was just 14.
Meanwhile, through the bravery of Ms Mcgowan – now an activist living in London – and others, the Metoo campaign has also shone a spotlight on such things as inequality and unequal pay in the workplace. More than 300 women working in the film, television and theatre industries came together to create the Time’s Up campaign, with the aim of turning the momentum of the #Metoo movement into real change. It raised €18million in its first 60 days for a legal defence fund to support survivors of sexual harassment.
So far, some 1,700 women across America — from hotel cooks, military officers and first responders to steelworkers and Silicon Valley employees — have approached Time’s Up for help.
Even United Nations Secretarygeneral Antonio Guterres says: “Historical and structural inequalities that have allowed oppression and discrimination to flourish are being exposed like never before”.
But while many believe change is afoot, some think the movement must guard against going too far.
Deborah Ewald, a campaigner for equal rights, warned there is a danger some people may make complaints about trivial things, ending people’s careers over something that doesn’t belong in court.
For months, Weinstein’s representatives have said the 66-yearold dad-of-five is seeking therapy for sex addiction — while his British wife and famous friends have abandoned him.
Yet the filmmaker behind Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare In Love has already made efforts to produce his most challenging film yet — a documentary designed to pave the way for a comeback. So far, no one will touch it.