GWYNETH PALTROW
One by one, they decided enough was enough. For decades, predators had relished subjecting women to the notorious practice of the Hollywood casting couch, threatening those who refused to slake their sick sexual appetites with career suicide.
And for decades, people turned a blind eye, dismissing the tales of rape and abuse as “just how things work”.
But in October 2017, as studios spewed out yet more superhero movies, the women of Hollywood decided to battle a seemingly all-powerful, unbeatable enemy of their own: Harvey Weinstein.
It started with Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd. Ten days later, dozens more women had come forward, some accusing the producer of threatening or groping them, others of rape. Some were famous, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, some were aspiring stars and others worked behind the camera.
They became a group of almost 100 women who changed the world.
On Monday “Uncle Harvey”, once the most powerful mogul in Hollywood, was convicted of third degree rape against ex-actress Jessica Mann and sexual assault against ex-production assistant Miriam Haley. He faces up to 29 years.
They were among the few women whose attacks were within the statute of limitations, allowing a prosecution.
But thanks to all those women who spoke up – dubbed the Silence Breakers – Weinstein, 67, is just one of thousands of offenders who will now pay for their actions.
The scandal sparked fresh momentum for a then little-known sexual harassment movement founded in 2006, #MeToo.
More victims opened up. Suddenly, the sort of institutional sexism, harassment and power abuse many had put up with for years was becoming less acceptable.
If you can galvanise people with a hashtag, so much more is possible
People were talking about what they had suffered without fearing for careers and victims the world over suddenly had a voice. The ripple effect made everyone re-evaluate what was “OK”, what was “banter”, what was “just normal” and what was not.
It didn’t matter whether you were a hairdresser with a “handsy” boss in Newcastle, a Manchester office clerk drunkenly groped at the Christmas party, or an A-lister forced to watch Weinstein pleasure himself into a hotel pot plant. Thanks to #MeToo and then the Time’s Up movement, society finds it harder to turn a blind eye.
Weinstein’s actions were an open secret for years, as he racked up Oscarproducing hits including Shakespeare in Love.
Brad Pitt confronted him in the 90s after he made a move on his then partner, Gwyneth Paltrow. Jolie had warned pals about him for two decades after a “bad experience” but didn’t go public until 2017. And Quentin Tarantino bravely admitted: “I knew enough to do more than I did.”
Weinstein’s abuse was so well known, actresses referred to being “Harveyed”.
As the boss of Miramax, then The Weinstein Company, he was typical of those who thought they could abuse power to satisfy their sexual appetites.
Now, the tables have turned and it’s him and those like him on their knees in desperation. Tarana Burke, a sexual violence survivor who founded #MeToo, said: “For so long, women believed he was untouchable. Now the justice system has found him guilty. That sends a powerful message.”
Since the scandal erupted, some 450 celebs, politicians and CEOs have been accused of sexual misconduct – from Kevin Spacey and Gerard Depardieu to Olympic physio Larry Nassar.
Bill Cosby was jailed, Westminster is probing conduct, R Kelly found himself in a cell and Prince Andrew faced a quiz on Victoria Guiffre’s claims she was forced to sleep with him – which he denies.
Tarana said: “If it’s possible to galvanise people starting with a hashtag, to get them to stand up and raise their voices and be counted, and be a part of this global community, then so much more is possible. That’s a phenomenal leap from where we were 30 years ago.”
Of course, there has been another side.
TARANA BURKE FOUNDER OF #METOO MOVEMENT