Harassment not only confined to Hollywood

Allegations: Sir Tom Jones says men and women suffer in the music industry

Sir Tom Jones has said the abuse and harassment alleged to take place in Hollywood is also common in the music industry with both men and women.

The singer said he had been on the receiving end of similar experiences when he was starting out.

Discussing the allegations surrounding Harvey Weinstein in an interview with the BBC, the veteran star said: “Things have always happened in the music industry as well.”

Asked whether it was something he had experienced, Sir Tom replied: “Yes. At the beginning, yes.”

He told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Edition: “There were a few things like that. But you avoid it. You just walk out ... But what’s tried on women is tried on men as well.”

The Voice coach said the encounter made him feel “terrible”.

He added: “But then you think, ‘Well, I’ve got to get away from this person and it can’t be like this.’

“You should know that yourself, you don’t do things just because you think, ‘I should do this.’ Your own mind will tell you that. Not just in showbusiness, but in anything you’re in.”

He added: “There’s always been that element there that people with power sometimes abuse it, but they don’t all abuse it, there are good people.”

Meanwhile, The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci has said he believes there will be more allegations of sexual harassment against other entertainment industry figures in the wake of the scandal.

The writer and director said the string of accusations levelled at the disgraced producer has shown that men who knew about the allegations must also speak up.

He told BBC Breakfast: “It’s another example of a reign of terror, with people too terrified to speak out.

“I think hopefully now what is going to help is not just actresses who have had these experiences being able to speak out and not feel afraid but also I read lots of accounts where they maybe had spoken at the time to some of their male friends about what had happened and actually it kind of stressed the fact that it’s up to men as well to speak out.”

As more allegations continue to surface, model Penny Lancaster has claimed she was raped as a teenager by a senior industry figure.

The TV personality and wife of Sir Rod Stewart alleged her drink had been spiked before she found herself face down on a bed with the man on top of her.

Breaking down in tears as she recalled the alleged incident, the 46-year-old told ITV’S Loose Women: “I can’t remember much of what happened, I just know he was on top of me and enjoying the experience but I certainly wasn’t.

“And I don’t really remember much more and I was too afraid to tell anyone.”

Sir Tom Jones, left, was speaking out in the wake of allegations made against Harvey Weinstein, right.