The brave victims of Weinstein who have changed the world
How women brought down ‘untouchable’ film mogul perv Accuser: My huge relief at being heard
Some were damned as soon as they were accused, as Twitter acted as judge and jury. British actor Ed Westwick was cut out of BBC drama And Then There Were None after allegations of rape, only for police to later decide no charges would be brought.
Joanna Williams, author of Women Vs Feminism, says some claims are so trivial it undermines other victims.
She points to Joe Biden being damned for kissing someone on the head – and comic Aziz Ansari, who denied coercive behaviour when he was accused of trying to kiss a date after failing to spot “non-verbal clues” she wasn’t interested.
She said: “If all these behaviours — rape, flirtation, picking the wrong wine — are thrown together, it risks giving the appearance that serious sexual assault and knee-touching are equivalent offences.” Some argue it will lead to a world where people are scared to flirt or make jokes. Sean Penn says #MeToo aims to “divide men and women” and Brigitte Bardot called it “ridiculous”.
Certainly, extra restrictions are in place. Two-thirds of universities now offer sexual consent classes and lessons are being planned for kids as young as four. In the US, several states have banned non-disclosure agreements to gag sexual harassment victims. Our own government is reviewing sexual harassment law. And one of the women who started it all says a bit of trepidation from lovelorn men is a small price to
Spacey, left, and jailed Cosby pay. McGowan said: “It’s fine to flirt but it’s another thing when someone buys you a drink and thinks they own your hour. If you’re not grabbing people COURAGE Mann spoke against their will, you out on her ordeal in court should be OK.”
She was outside court on Monday as Weinstein was convicted. She accused him of raping her but it was too late to prosecute.
The same statute of limitations has stolen justice from dozens more victims. But on March 11, they will at least see him sentenced for something.
Weinstein remains defiant and his lawyer, Arthur Aidala, described him as “upbeat” yesterday.
He was being taken to Rikers Island jail after his conviction in Manhattan but was instead admitted to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains. Aidala said
Weinstein is “flabbergasted by the verdict” and “cautiously optimistic” about his appeal. It came as a group of the mogul’s accusers warned him they intend to pursue him in the Los Angeles courts. But whatever else is to come for Weinstein, when the guilty verdict was read, the Silence Breakers had also won something far more important. They won confirmation this was no longer a world in which Weinstein could bully his way to freedom. That this was no longer a world where people get away with brushing sex offences under the carpet. And that this is a world where everyone – be it a teen on a Saturday job or a pop star – can finally be heard.
Victim Miriam Haley
THE woman whose harrowing evidence against Weinstein helped lead to his conviction has spoken of her relief he may never be free to rape again.
Miriam Haley said she believed the verdict gave “hope” to others abused by powerful men.
On Monday a jury convicted the movie mogul of a criminal sexual act in the first degree against the former production assistant.
It carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years behind bars.
The court heard how the film producer, 67, forcibly performed a sex act on Haley in 2006.
Speaking to Good Morning America yesterday, Haley, 42, said: “There was a huge sense of relief that the jury believed me and I was heard. I was just grateful that they got it. It was terrifying. Terrifying.
“But after a lot of thought, I just felt it was the right thing to do.”
She also told CBS’s This Morning progress was being made, adding: “Statistics say most rapists walk, so I didn’t know which way it would go. I’m just very relieved and grateful.”
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump attempted to politicise Weinstein’s conviction, accusing Democrats of being “fans” of the producer. He added: “Michelle Obama loved him, loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him.”