Placido’s ‘sorry’ to sex accusers
If you can galvanise people with a hashtag, so much more is possible
PLACIDO Domingo has apologised to dozens of women who accused him of sexual harassment.
The opera singer, 79, said he was sorry for the “pain that I caused” and acknowledged complainants had feared speaking out because of his high profile.
A US union for singers, dancers, musicians and backstage staff found more than two dozen people
Placido Domingo alleging sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
They claim to have seen unacceptable conduct by the millionaire over three decades. When the allegations first surfaced last August, the Spaniard defended his “gallant gestures”, but yesterday he finally apologised.
He said: “I respect that these women finally felt comfortable enough to speak out and I want them to know that I am truly sorry for the hurt that I caused them.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions and I have grown from this experience.”
He added: “I understand now some women may have feared expressing themselves honestly because of a concern their careers would be adversely affected...”
Eight singers and a dancer initially claimed they were sexually harassed.
Soprano star Angela Turner
Wilson claims Domingo once came over to her and put his hand down her bra straps and “groped” her.
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 exproduction 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.
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, an 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