We all know a Weinstein
WE HAVE heard increasingly alarming allegations of harassment and abuse by Harvey Weinstein and many other unnamed Hollywood elites, going back decades.
Weinstein is one example of the repulsive behaviour that occurs in many of our everyday lives. We all have “Weinsteins” in our communities. This has been particularly exemplified by the social media campaign #MeToo, started by actress Alyssa Milano on Twitter.
The accusations against Weinstein are so sickening that in recent days his wife left him, friends and political allies ditched him, his company booted him, the organisation that runs the Oscars voted to expel him and France’s president wants to strip him of his Legion of Honour award.
Weinstein’s reputation was no secret in the business but, until some of his accusers went public in a New York Times expose, he was untouchable. Well, except by lawyers: The Weinstein Company had paid settlements to at least eight women in response to accusations against him.
Like many men before him, Harvey Weinstein did what he did without consequence for decades – simply because he could.
A sick man he is not. He is a predator who knowingly and deliberately used his position as a powerful man in Hollywood to lure women to his hotel room and sexually abuse them.
We cannot let perpetrators like Weinstein continue to hold power because they believe they’re untouchable. It’s time to show them they are not. We need to let the Weinsteins of the world know that the casting couch is not just a distant memory. Durban