Horror stories far beyond Hollywood
The fall of Harvey Weinstein has shocked Hollywood but should spur wider soulsearching about how power can be abused.
The film producer denies allegations of assault and is pinning his hopes on a “second chance” but women are stepping forward daily with accounts of repugnant behaviour.
Tales of his temper did not stop politicians accepting his cash, and the Clintons and the Obamas were happy to be photographed enjoying his company.
But now women are breaking their silence with allegations of predatory acts. His films may have won more than 300 Oscar nominations but the company he founded is in crisis and he may end his days as an outcast.
We are grimly familiar with stories of how powerful individuals can get away with habitual abuse.
There was an abundance of rumours about Jimmy Savile’s behaviour but his victims never saw him brought to justice. It seems that people who are ready to exploit their position to prey on the vulnerable often believe that the cloak of power will ensure their acts remain hidden.
Many figures in politics, entertainment and religion who used their clout to behave abominably have passed away without a day of reckoning. But we can hope that our culture is changing to ensure that those who long for justice can speak out without fear of retribution.
Scandals involving celebrities and figures in authority attract great attention but power can be abused in any organisation, whether it is a business, a hospital, a school or a family. It takes immense courage to report predators but doing so can protect other people who are at risk.
It is imperative that the film industry gets its house in order and takes a zero-tolerance approach to exploitative behaviour, but it is just as important that no industry or profession turns a blind eye to coercion.
Weinstein has apologised to “everyone who has been hurt by my actions”.
But questions must be asked about whether Hollywood itself is culpable for accepting a culture where it is commonplace for aspiring actors to face indecent proposals.
History teaches us that when people in powerful positions think they can get away with outrageous behaviour then too many individuals will attempt to do exactly that.
We would like to think that a sense of decency would stop individuals giving in to horrific temptations but it is naive to assume that they will show such restraint.
Before his entry to the White House Donald Trump was caught on tape boasting that being a “star” means you can “do anything” to women.
Such odious remarks are indicative of an attitude which should have no place in a civilised society. We can hope that today’s young people will see such boorish chauvinism as pathetic – and that they will know if anyone tries to exploit them they should not hesitate to sound the alarm bell. The Western Mail newspaper is published by Media Wales a subsidiary company of Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. The entire contents of The Western Mail are the copyright of Media Wales Ltd. It is an offence to copy any of its contents in any way without the company’s permission. If you require a licence to copy parts of it in any way or form, write to the Head of Finance at Six Park Street. The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%