Weinstein claiming ‘sex addiction’ is attempt to pass the buck
■ So the disgraced Harvey Weinstein, American film producer and co-founder of Miramax, has disappeared to a sexual addiction clinic amid a maelstrom of sexual assault and rape allegations spanning decades by an ever-growing number of women.
By now most of us have read about the sordid details, the modus operandi, and the shameless abuse of power and exploitation of young women.
More and more alleged victims have come forward amidst the media frenzy. And Harvey’s high-tailed it. To a €37,000 a month addiction clinic for his “sex addiction.” (Incidentally this is the same place that Tiger Woods fled to following the scandals that brought about his spectacular fall from grace). Isn’t it well for him?
There, apparently, he can engage in equine therapy and art expression; so horse-riding and painting. Allowing him to get to the root of his problem. I ask you.
Claiming one has a sex addiction, when caught redhanded being a serial predator, has become de rigeur lately for the elite. It’s so delightfully convenient.
It wasn’t their chronic unfaithfulness, deceitfulness, lying or manipulation that was the problem. No, no, it was the addiction. They had no control whatsoever over how they behaved, how many people they used, or hurt because it wasn’t really them. It was the addiction. That master diabolical puppeteer in their lives. And people as rich as Weinstein can hole up in some addiction clinic, away from all the outrage and commentary, and quaff a martini by the pool, waiting for it all to die down.
No remorse, no apologies, just the adult version of “Johnny made me do it”. But now Johnny isn’t another person, it’s an intangible force labelled an addiction. A perfect ploy used by PR people to minimise and distance the person from their behaviour. To allow them to take zero personal responsibility. To pass the buck.
“Addiction” in recent years, like many other words in our lexicon, has become both overused and misused (“literally” being the perfect example). This overuse has diluted the meaning of the word. I accept that there are people who have a genuine sexual addiction.
But the reality is that Weinstein sounds like a lecherous creep who abused his power to prey on women. The term cannot be used as a mask behind which a predator can hide.
In the real world, people are required to act with integrity and self-restraint. We all want to do things that we know we shouldn’t, be tempted to do or have something that isn’t good for us. If that is what now makes an addict, then check me into the salted caramel and Zara addiction clinic.
This shirking of responsibility is both counterproductive and distasteful. Surely the first step to redemption is to take responsibility for one’s own actions?
Sorcha Whelan Address with editor