Times Colonist

McGowan labels activists ‘losers’

- CYDNEY HENDERSON

Rose McGowan, one of the most vocal advocates of the MeToo movement, now says the revolution­ary reckoning that swept through Hollywood the past year is “bull.”

McGowan, 45, helped spark the movement last fall by going on the record with sexual-assault allegation­s against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The actress said Weinstein raped her in a hotel room in 1997 and blackliste­d her career.

But days after the MeToo movement’s first anniversar­y, the Scream actress said Hollywood’s battle against sexual assault in the entertainm­ent industry is only skin-deep.

“It’s a lie. It’s a Band-Aid lie to make them feel better,” McGowan said in an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times.

“I know these people, I know they’re lily-livered, and as long as it looks good on the surface, to them, that’s enough.”

McGowan claimed she was shunned by the MeToo community, frequently left out of the survivors’ brunches and campaign lunches, despite being one of the most outspoken members.

“They’re not champions. I just think they’re losers. I don’t like them,” she said.

“How do I explain the fact that I got a GQ Man of the Year award and no women’s magazines and no women’s organizati­ons have supported me?”

The Charmed alum vowed never to work in Hollywood again, adding that although she doesn’t agree with U.S. President Donald Trump’s politics, she does share something in common with his supporters.

“They hate Hollywood for being faux liberals — and they’re 100 per cent right about that. It’s a bunch of faux liberals,” McGowan said.

“It’s crap, and they know it is deep down, but they’re living an empty life, and to me that’s their punishment. They get to live the lives they live.”

McGowan doubled down on past criticism of Meryl Streep, calling it “literally impossible” for the Oscar-winning actress to be completely in the dark with regard to Weinstein’s predatory behaviour.

McGowan also renounced support of Hillary Clinton for the same reason.

On Twitter last week, McGowan marked one year since coming forward with allegation­s against Weinstein on Twitter.

She wrote: “Today marks the anniversar­y of one of the hardest years of my life. It’s been a year of triggering for so many. I’m proud of us.”

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