Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Names and faces
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones says that
husband Michael Douglas, who has denied allegations of sexual harassment, is a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement. “Michael is 110 percent behind this movement,” says Zeta-Jones, who noted that the 73-year-old Douglas is both the husband and son of actresses. “He’s been in this business working creatively with women for over 50 years.” Zeta-Jones spoke Sunday in Pasadena while promoting the TV movie Cocaine Godmother. Earlier this month, Douglas issued what he called a pre-emptive denial of allegations, yet to be published, that he harassed an employee in the 1980s and damaged her career. He acknowledged using “colorful language” but otherwise said the harassment story was a lie and that he was proud of his reputation. Zeta-Jones did not directly address the allegations Sunday. But she said she was “very, very happy” with his statement and felt that he expressed himself “in a very, very concise, clear and personal manner.” Douglas’ parents are the actors Kirk Douglas and Diana Douglas.
Film star
Catherine Deneuve
has apologized to victims of “odious” acts of sexual abuse, after she signed a much-criticized letter saying men are being unfairly accused of sexual misconduct. The original letter, signed by 100 French women from the entertainment, publishing and academic fields, says the wave of accusations against powerful men since the Harvey Weinstein scandal has gone too far. It argued that supporters of the #MeToo movement and a French counterpart have overreached by publicly prosecuting private experiences and that they have created a totalitarian climate. “Rape is a crime,” the letter said. “But insistent or clumsy flirting is not a crime, nor is gallantry a chauvinist aggression.” The first letter prompted a backlash in France and beyond. In response to the criticism, Deneuve wrote her own public letter published Monday by daily Liberation apologizing to abuse victims. However she also defended her view that men are becoming victims of a “media lynching” and that the current atmosphere threatens sexual freedom. She denounced abuse of power and called for better justice against proven abusers. She also defended her feminist credentials, noting that she publicly backed legalizing abortion in France.