Hollywood welcomes claims shining light on abuse

LOS ANGELES: Filmmakers welcomed the sexual misconduct scandal engulfing Hollywood as a “positive” moment that could end decades of abuse and serve as an example to other industries.

Several directors said at the annual Governors Awards the flood of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others might finally force reform and protect future aspiring stars.

James Gunn, the director of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies, said it was “a really positive thing for the industry”.

“It’s been something that has existed for a long time. It’s something that stopped workflow, harmed creativity, harmed making money and it’s just not good for us,” he said.

The acclaimed director repeated previous allegations that a priest at his Catholic school in Manchester, Missouri, had been a paedophile.

“For me this is a light being shone upon a lot of things.... And at the same time a lot of people in Hollywood are really terrible people and that’s coming to light,” he added.

Gunn spoke out ahead of veteran movie star Donald Sutherland accepting an honorary Oscar at Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom “for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness”.

Stars at the glitzy ceremony included Jennifer Lawrence, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks, Chadwick Boseman and Emma Stone, who was deep in conversation for much of the evening with ex-boyfriend and Spiderman co-star Andrew Garfield.

Denis Villeneuve, the Oscarnominated director of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, said there was “something very positive” about victims of abuse finally breaking their silence.