This week in Hollywood, Ariel Winter was spotted having a candid kiss with boyfriend Levi Meaden in an Los Angeles grocery store, Kylie Jenner posted a busty photo on Instagram- and leading movie producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexually assaulting 34 women and counting. In just one week, the climate in the entertainment industry changed, as multiple women came forward with their stories of a predator.
On Oct. 11, Cara Delevingne posted on Instagram that Weinstein had tried to coerce her to kiss another woman in his hotel room. They had worked together when Weinstein produced the 2015 film Paper Towns and met up to discuss a new movie role. Delevingne wrote that she was instructed to accept Weinstein’s proposal to go to his hotel suite by her assistant. She accepted the invitation and wrote that she immediately felt comforted upon finding another woman in the room. That was until Weinstein directed the two to kiss. Delevingne instead burst into song before making her way to the door, where Weinstein allegedly blocked the door and tried to kiss her before she managed to escape the room. This story does not stand alone.
Actresses from Gwyneth Paltrow to Kate Beckinsale all report being invited to discuss movie roles but instead experiencing Weinstein allegedly asking for a massage, lunging for a kiss and launching himself onto them. This is described as ‘grooming’ by David Lisak, a researcher who investigates undetected rapists. These individuals often resemble average people who are respected among friends and peers.
In Weinstein’s case, he was considered to be a brilliant producer, responsible for jump-starting many young actresses’ careers. He also has an enormous network composed of Hollywood’s most beloved. In the book Slut by Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney, Lisak also discusses how undetected rapists often attempt to get their targets into isolated situations as Weinstein did in luring woman to his private hotel rooms. In Hollywood, however, the vulnerability of the target and the power of the predator are amplified tenfold.
Allegedly, agents often referred young actresses to Weinstein, knowing that he had the power to turn them into stars and assistants did not question leaving these women alone with him. It is reasonable to assume these individuals suspected what was going on when many prominent female actresses refused to work for him and discouraged others from working for him.
After being assaulted, many women are discouraged from reporting it for fear of jeopardizing their careers and being blacklisted as ‘difficult’ to work with. It is imperative to recognize how Weinstein used his position as a powerful movie executive in Hollywood both to lure women and keep them quiet.
Although Weinstein is no longer a partner in his production company, Miramax, and his membership to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been revoked, Hollywood continues to protect perpetrators and silence survivors. Both Bill Cosby, accused of assaulting dozens of women, and Roman Polanski, convicted of assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 1978, retain their academy memberships. A #MeToo campaign has emerged in the wake of the Weinstein case to provide a voice to silenced survivors of sexual harassment and assault. This campaign intends to highlight the magnitude of this issue both within Hollywood and in everyday life.
It is time for Hollywood to hold their golden boys accountable. The industry must take a stance against sexual violence by taking swift action after the first allegation. Hollywood has a rare outlet into the homes of millions and it is time for the industry to inspire a shift in culture from manipulation and dominance to respect and consent.
Photo by Meagan Casalino
