The current issue of Variety has a cover story all about feminism, women’s rights and sexism in Hollywood – you can read the intro Variety piece here. Yesterday, people were discussing some words said by Gwyneth Paltrow (which I’ll probably cover later), but then Variety dropped an interview they did with Ashley Judd which reads like the grossest, most f—ked up blind item ever. Ashley tells a story about an unnamed film industry big-wig who sexually harassed her and offered to get her an Oscar nomination if she would watch him take a shower. Think about that. He didn’t want to watch HER shower. He wanted to manipulate her into watching HIM shower. After which, she would probably need a shower. Variety describes the guy as “a mogul from a rival studio” (she was working on 1997’s Kiss the Girls at Paramount at the time). Here’s the main part of her blind item:
I was sexually harassed by one of our industry’s most famous, admired-slash-reviled bosses. I was making “Kiss the Girls” at the time, and here I was, a declared feminist…and yet I did not recognize at the time what was happening to me. It took years before I could evaluate that incident and realize that there was something incredibly wrong and illegal about it.
In my example, there was no casting involved. This was just twirling the lasso. I think it’s very important to note that I considered myself empowered. He was very stealth and expert about it. He groomed me, which is a technical term – Oh, come meet at the hotel for something to eat. Fine, I show up. Oh, he’s actually in his room. I’m like, Are you kidding me? I just worked all night. I’m just going to order cereal. It went on in these stages. It was so disgusting. He physically lured me by saying, “Oh, help me pick out what I’m going to wear.” There was a lot that happened between the point of entry and the bargaining. There was this whole process of bargaining—“Come do this, come do this, come do this.” And I would say, “No, no, no.” I have a feeling if this is online and people have the opportunity to post comments, a lot of the people will say, “Why didn’t you leave the room?”, which is victim-blaming. When I kept saying no to everything, there was a huge asymmetry of power and control in that room.
This will be familiar to all the women to whom this has happened. I have a feeling we are a legion. I was with a bunch of other actors, and it was critical that it was actors: The exact same thing had happened to them by the exact same mogul. Only when we were sitting around talking about it did we realize our experiences were identical. There was a mutual strengthening and fortification of our resolve.
The ultimate thing when I was weaseling out of everything else was, “Will you watch me take a shower?” And all the other women, sitting around this table with me, said, “Oh my god—that’s what he said to me too.” In that moment, I told him something like, “When I win an Academy Award in one of your movies.” He said, “No, when you get nominated.” I said, “No, no, when I win an Academy Award.” That was a small moment of power when I was able to contradict him and hold to my reality. And then I got out of there. And by the way, I’ve never been offered a movie by that studio. Ever.
As Lainey says, we know who this is. We don’t need to name him. Even people with a passing interest in Hollywood know who this is. And it just makes me feel especially creepy about the young women who do play along, who become his go-to ladies. As Ashley says in her piece though, it’s not about the women and their actions or lack thereof. It’s about a douchebag with power systematically abusing that power in disgusting and illegal ways. UGH.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I don’t know who it is!!!
Harvey Weinstein
Unfortunately, because of his reputation, any relatively young actress who stars in a Miramax/TWC movie (especially a critically acclaimed one that garners awards/nominations for the actress) gets tarred with the “Harvey’s Girls” thing whether it’s true or not, unless she’s an actress few people dislike (for example, Amy Adams rarely gets referred to this way). Simply getting photographed with him at a promo event for her movie is enough to get people insinuating that an actress is bestowing sexual favors on him.
Because when people claim an actress is a HG, they’re usually not lamenting sexual harassment in Hollywood, rather, they’re doing it to disparage an actress they dislike and/or consider overrated/undeserving of her success or awards.
Ugh.
So proud of Ashley for spilling the beans. He’s used a lot of young starlets and continues to if the stories are to be believed.
Rumor had it that Brad Pitt found out about Harvey weinstein and Gwyneth and that’s why they split. Also those hacked nude phone pics of Blake Lively were reportedly for, and were sent to Weinstein from Blake to land the role in The Town (though Town many speculated at the time they we’re for Affleck). That model that got talked out of suing/pressing charges against him last year – I believed her story straight off.
Says a lot about the women who’ve never made a miramax or Weinstein company movie…not that they all were his casting couch girls, some he probably left alone because they were too famous and had substantial enough careers. But they certainly knew how he operated, and have for a long time and turned a blind eye.
Other women who have not been associated with him either are too big to fail and have integrity (see Angelina) or they’ve been shut out (see winona Ryder – I bet she has some stories )
@dana – Very well said
@dana – And pretty much spot on. .
Oh, I thought it was Michael Bay!
I guess Olivia Wilde was a Weinstein girl too, though you could probably put her on the failed list. Mira Sorvino was another Weinstein girl and was definitely not deserving of her Oscar win.
I really thought Harvey was gay – my apologies to the gay community for that.
vanna: yep.
Not sure if you’re serious but… his name rhymes with Schmarvey Crynsteen
Unfortunately, I’m not kidding. I thought his biggest offense was making his stars wear those awful ice skating costumes to premiers.
@Caro. No, the photos of nude Brake Lively were not for Weinstein in order to land the role in The Town. She had ALREADY landed the role, since in the photos she has the tattoos she had in the film.
@PRINCEVALIANT
Sorry, those pics aren’t burned into my consciousness to be able to recall if she had tats or not. I don’t really recall tats at all.
Even if your recall is accurate and she’s posing nekkid in a bathroom with her town tats, since her longtime boyfriend immediately came out and said they were not for him – most assumed it was Weinstein or affleck she was showing off for.
If it wasn’t that particular weinstein production it was for her next.
Yeah, Blakes pics were absolutely meant for Affleck.
What if those pics were leaked by Jen Garner when she was snooping thru hubby’s phone…
thank you! I didn’t know either! I sort of guessed Weinstein, but I thought he was gay, so i discounted it and went with james cameron or Michael Bey Cameron seems like the type to be so ego-centric that he’s want someone to watch him, but Bey is – by far- the creepiest.
So 90% Oscar winner actresses since 20 years watched him naked ….
Imagine that some famous actresses talk and name him officially ,he would be over
Oh please, they would be over not him. Never the men.
Weinstein has more power than Allan or Polanski and no one can take them down.
Hollywood is run by men, most of them do such things only Weinstein barely hides it. They will not expose one of their own.
Look Bill Cosby’s sexual abuse/rape stories. At a moment,his victims stopped to be victim of him when they start to talk.The shame is on Cosby now
For example…ifRichardson continues to work ,it is only because one or 2 person named him
If every victim or just more victims talked ,I don’t buy that someone would like to work with him after
@dont kill me. Cosby was allowed to fall because he had outlived his usefulness and more importantly, his old protectors and compatriots in excess are either dead or no longer in power. Harvey doesnt have that problem. His buddies who probably do the same thing, are still at the peak of power, be they studio heads, enterainment lawyers, media owners etc. And Harvey has helped make a lot of people very wealthy. It would take much more than just forty independent accounts of abuse to beat him. You need multiple extremely damning video evidence at the very least and even so, be prepared to be publicly accused of extortion or bitter.
My guess is, like Terry Richardson, R Kelly and other creeps like him Harvey doesn’t do this with the heavy hitters. He does it to the non famous (I’m thinking interns, behind the scenes people, runners etc.), the up and coming ones trying to break into the industry and the ones who might be known but with not enough power to take him on or they risk losing what small career they have built up and being blacklisted, such as Ashley was. They know this so either go along with it, or their career takes a hit.
Its their M.O. really.
I agree. Like most predatory people, he’s good at choosing his victims.
Harvey, like Cosby, can afford to be brazen. His abuses have been an open secret for years but nobody has openly come after him…..because “this bank is too big to fail”. I mean Ashley Judd was a pretty big star when he pulled this, just as Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson were pretty big when Cosby did what he did.
The problem is that women who lay these accusations are put on trial on two fronts. They risk counter lawsuits and endless litigation financed by boys with deep pockets. Then theres the court of public opinion which even if they win, they will likely be blacklisted by other Hollywood players as they close rank. And the few producers who may be sympathetic cant cast you if the audience solely identifies you as that “casting couch victim”. Its no accident that the women who speak up tend to be at career end and that they never name names, no matter how big her own name is.
Exactly. Predators like Weinstein know who to target. Shame that every actress who gets a push from him are looked down upon because of his reputation. See also dana’s comment above.
You don’t think he does? How do you think jlaw got that Oscar? It wasn’t talent.
Naya is right. Judd had good clout at the time, and she already had things lined up. She had already done Michael Mann’s Heat w/ DeNiro & Pacino as well as A Time to Kill w/ Bullock and Mcconoughey. This “mystery mogul” deals with well-known actresses, too, especially in the late 90s/early 00s, and many of them chose their careers (not judging — that was their choice) and some are reaping benefits galore while a few others fell by the wayside because they were not that talented to begin with.
This is a super late comment, but: Judd was only an up-and-comer at the time of her story. Kiss The Girls was her big break. Her roles in Heat and Time To Kill were very, very small, and she was very young. She was exactly who Weinstein would have pulled this own.
Sadly, I really don’t think he would be affected even if twenty women named him. His m.o. is seemingly coercion – so even if he bartered for sex, took advantage of young women, etc. it’s not a Cosby situation. He’s a total disgusting creep but as far as we know he’s not technically a rapist. Hollywood power players could give a crap.
It’s also rumored that the leaked nudes from another super, uber famous academy award winner (that everyone loves) were for him. They were actually taken on a casting couch. People just love her so much that they don’t talk about it…
who?
I think the reference is to Jennifer Lawrence
JLAW, rumors floated when her nudes leaked out.
I still wonder about JLAW.
JLaw would never do that. She has talent and didn’t /doesn’t need Harvey. All you Jen haters have now lost the plot.
@wentworth go listen to her award speeches during silver linings playbook… She did it. I remember after her golden globe speech sitting straight up saying yikes is she a Harvey girl and prior to that i didn’t realize SLP was a Weinstein production. It was obvious.
I believed that, especially since Harvey bought her that Oscar
> JLaw would never do that. She has talent and didn’t /doesn’t need Harvey.
She totally would though. I think she sees her body as a tool of trade. Many actresses do, I think, How else they would get naked in the movies. Also, the shared changing rooms . Actors have a different view of nakedness.
Can we please remember not to speak about young women victims of predation as though the ones we like “would never do this”?
I don’t think JLaw is “above this” not because I am a hater. I think she’s great. It’s because I won’t blame an exploited person for their own abuse. Read what Ashley Judd said. This isn’t on very young women trapped by a serial predator, it’s on him.
Exactly K2! They are just playing the game that was laid out for them, and I think many just don’t think it’s that big of a deal to sleep with the power brokers — studio heads, producers, agents, and directors (esp. producers, though) for career advancement. Lots of famous AND talented women and men have done this in Hollywood.
I doubt it. They were obviously for Nicholas Hoult.
You know even if there are a ton of rumors about Harvey and that is why people assume this is him I think there are mote than one gross mogul in Hollywood. She should just name the guy.
DKMIF I would sooooo LOVE IT if one or more of these actresses came out with tell all memoirs. I mean for goodness sake! I know there is liability , but just like she doesn’t mention his name in the article, we ALL know exactly who it is! PLEASE PLEASE ladies, tell it all! Do it for women everywhere and in the industry! And btw, how is he married to a very beautiful, sophisticated, upper class English woman who has a successful design business?? Why would a woman like that be married to Shmarvey Shmeimstein?
Three guesses why Georgina Chapman would tolerate him, money, power, and influence. How else would she get people to wear her overblown skaters’ outfits?
No one knew Marchesa until she married him. That is why. She deserves having to lay next to that sweaty beast. She knows he is a bad man. Horrible people, horrible dresses!
Go Ashley – you have taken the first step of talking about it and now the next step is to publically name him.
I applaud her for sharing this, and shudder to think of all the other women who found themselves in that same position.
plus 1
She should just name him. It’s not like she has a career to save.
For what? To have to deal with law suits for the rest of her life, probably huge dept as a consequence and get insulted all over the internet by all the people who will believe she is making everything up?
It would be great if he would be stopped, but I don’t blame her for not naming him. The amount of power he has is disgusting and people in much clearer cases get away without punishment.
Think of Polanski.
He actually pleaded guilty to the charge of “Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a minor,” and still half or the movie industry and the rest of the world comes out to defend and protect him.
Oh, that f#cking turdstool, Harvey. I hope his penis rots and falls off into his morning bellini.
Ha ha Eew! But hell yes!
The thing is, sadly it would not surprise me if some of the more recent actresses who were his “muses”, somehow convinced themselves they held the cards in a scenario like this. Young women today are so savvy, so informed, know what to expect,etc. that when something like this happens they might think “Oh whatever, I can handle this, I am the one in control” – like watch a gross old dude take a shower, sure fine. I mean when we look at how many young actresses were involved in the nude phone hack, they are thinking they are in control sometimes I think when they are not.
Ashley Judd I get the impression did not have much parental guidance or a strong father figure, she was probably such a vulnerable target. She broke through with a little nothing indie movie, nothing but raw talent and beauty. Hollywood must have been full of wolves wanting to exploit her, it’s no wonder she’s a bit fragile. Good for her for calling this creep out, because everyone knows exactly who she is talking about, so no, it might not take him down, but maybe just maybe it will make another young actress think twice before accepting an invitation.
@MRSDARCY
+1000 to this whole post.
Ashley in Ruby in Paradise was exquisite. She could have easily been nominated for an Oscar for that. I’ve alwaya been at a loss at how her career has gone. After seeing her early on, when she was just starting to act (she was a revelation in this cable movie as a bipolar wife to Luke Perry – got amazing critical reviews). Plus it literally doesn’t get much more beautiful than Ashley. She could have been modern day Liz Taylor in my opinion. With the same kind of accolades because her chops were just as strong as her beauty.
She was even in some little lame movie with Natalie Portman and stole the whole dang thing from her. She lent that whole movie a gravitas it wouldn’t have had without her.
If someone had told me back then that it would be portman who would win the Oscar one day while Ashley would fade into near oblivion I would have raged.
I agree. She has a certain quality. Hard to understand why she has not done more.
@Caro – Thank you! I forgot the name of it and was too lazy to look it up! That movie was such a big deal for her at the time and has been largely forgotten I think. I remember being blown away by it. I do wonder if her choice of roles was limited now from this revelation, she did make some pretty by the numbers thrillers. But you are right she had the talent and the beauty, much more so than Gwyneth (cough thanks Harvey) or numerous others who got the plum roles in her era.
So true about Ashley Judd being vulnerable–her upbringing has always sounded horrendous and I suspect that Naomi Judd (who seems like a 24k b!tch/hypocrite in interviews, insulting unwed mothers when she WAS one) undermined the confidence and emotional well-being of both her daughters. Despite them both being wildly talented in acting and singing, they’ve had more than their fair share of troubles.
Please don’t yell at me but doesn’t something like this happen to most working women? Didn’t we all get crude remarks, or creepy gestures, or invited for a drink, or worse – from bosses (or, in my case, my boss’s bosses)? There’s definitely an imbalance of power, and it’s heinous that you have to worry about your career being compromised. But it’s not just in Hollywood. I wish she had been more inclusive in her story.
What bothers me is that when you go to the guy’s hotel room, there’s a tacit understanding that something more is afoot – so you cross a line right there. I don’t find her answer about “give me an Academy Award” very clever. She was playing the game.
I guess I just don’t care for Ashley.
Belle, I’m with you on this assessment. I followed the Judds’ career in the 1980s as well as some of Ashley’s 1990s interviews, and just cannot buy the naive ingenue bit. She was a member of a famous family from her early teenage years forward, and her mother and sister had to be aware of the games power players play.
I am the same age as Ashley and recall the work environment of the 1990s. Male bosses and customers said things that would be immediately called out as harassment today. It was a very different environment then — everywhere.
Her family were famous yes but she grew up in the south, by all accounts left on her own a lot when her Mom and sister were on tour so it’s not quite the same as being brought up in Hollywood I think. Her Mom and her sister were musicians, not actresses, it’s a different world. Yes they should have looked out for her better, but I don’t think they did.
Her mother was / is a piece of work, IMO. Yet they were a big deal in entertainment as a whole, and Ashley attended awards shows as a teenager with them. She may not have been fully immersed, yet she was exposed to the LA workings. Plus, casting couch stories have been around for ages.
She was not a teenager with absolutely no exposure to the entertainment industry (none of which is pristine, I think). She was 28 or 29, according to her timeline.
@mrs. Darcy this behavior happens in the south especially in the Nashville music scene it’s not exclusive to Hollywood. It can happen to anyone anywhere. This shouldn’t happen to anyone and it shouldn’t have happened to her but it isn’t an exclusive Hollywood thing, and I’m sure there are some young girls if country music with similar stories.
I usually agree with you, and would never yell at you, but I think it would be harder than you are suggesting to tell your boss when you’re both out of town that you won’t come to his hotel room. You only have a second to decide, and saying no would be the same thing as saying I think you’re going to hit on me. She probably should have said she didn’t feel comfortable or didn’t think it was appropriate, but I understand how you could cave into that pressure, because a similar thing happened to me on a date. I won’t tell the whole story, but I was sexually assaulted after a guy took me to his house, without my permission, and insisted I come in. I said no several times, I don’t feel comfortable, I don’t know you well enough, but he was a friend of a friend and I finally capitulated. I didn’t want to be rude. It was a stupid decision on my part, but in no way does it excuse what he did. And her going to his hotel room does not excuse this man, probably HW, for harassing her.
My thoughts exactly, GNAT. We’re always told to be polite, and it’s something that we’re hit over the head with, especially when we’re women. To decline the meetup would be seen as impolite and you “getting ahead of yourself.” It’s a dilemma we’re all confronted with at some point: be “impolite” or be safe? It must be the same in Hollywood.
I agree that she must have known it was a little weird when he asked her to his room. But it sounded like he slowly reels out the suggestions. What I thought was sad was her reply – when I win an academy award. Was that a joke or for real? Because if it was the latter she essentially was naming a price for the harassment. Small thing to be proud of. Good for her for speaking out though.
Yes, I agree. They lure you in slowly with every little request being a tiny little more intimate than the last one and therefore difficult to notice.
See, when the boss asks his secretary in the office if his tie fits with his suit then this is not so unusual.
If the boss asks his secretary the same thing while they are in his hotel room then this is already different but not very much if it is a business trip. And these are such blurred lines that it is difficult to spot them or to insist that they be hold up especially for the less powerful one.
I do believe that it is difficult for any young actress to refuse such a request by a person as powerful in the movie business as Harvey.
Yes, I agree that those who play coy, try to stall his expected rewards, etc. are definitely playing the game.
The author writes, “As Ashley says in her piece though, it’s not about the women and their actions or lack thereof. It’s about a douchebag with power systematically abusing that power in disgusting and illegal ways. ” Actually it’s about both. Weinstein is a disgusting wad of nasty, but the women play along to a certain extent to get what they want. I find the actions of both parties involved pretty gross.
I’m kind of surprised that you would say that, given your name. Aren’t laws about sexual abuse and harassment based on the theory that a great imbalance of power exists? What’s “playing along” to you might be survival to someone else. Do we all wish she had told him initially that she didn’t feel comfortable meeting in his hotel room, or that he was making her uncomfortable and she was going to leave after she got there? Or that she had told him to go to hell and then drove straight to the newspaper or her lawyer’s office? Of course. But she was unable to do that without consequences to her career. She was trying not to make him angrier than he was already going to be when she didn’t give in to his demands. He had the power to ruin her career. And he abused that power. She did what she thought was best in a situation she shouldn’t ever have been in. I don’t think it’s fair to equate their actions.
I don’t see their actions as equally bad. His actions are worse by far. He is preying on women who need his help to launch or further their careers. What women choose to do when faced with his manipulation tactis is a separate issue. I would like to see Weinstein and others like him, face sexual harrassment charges and be exposed for what they are. That would be justice. I would also like to see a woman whom his kind is attempting to take advantage of, go work with someone else or find a different line of work. Playing into any games, getting what they want (movie role, Oscar nom, etc.) , and then later saying how wrong it is that he treats women that way, undermines their argument that they were taken advantage of b/c they accepted his “gifts” in exchange for what he asked of them, so it was a business deal – a shady one, but they both got what they wanted nonetheless. I don’t buy into the idea that these women were forced to do things they didn’t want to in order to get ahead in their career. It’s still a choice they make. The better choice would be to walk away and not play the game. It’s not fair that a woman might have to give up her dream career in order to maintain her integrity and pride, but what is more important? integrity or being famous? I’ll take integrity.
I remember a case years ago where a woman sued a partner at a big law firm for coercion. She had sex with him for years because he threatened to destroy her career if she didn’t. She sued when she came up for partnership and didn’t make it. I took the same position that you did. It wouldn’t have been fair, but I would have left the job before I slept with him. For one thing, she was married, so she was unfaithful to her husband, who left her when this all came out, but even single I just wouldn’t have done it. I viewed it as a choice she made – an unfair choice, but still a choice. So I get where you’re coming from. But maybe it’s not that simple. I have family who would back me up financially if needed, my career was not my first priority, certainly not over my marriage or integrity. Maybe she grew up poor and her career was everything to her, or something else. Is it fair to judge her for the decisions she made under duress and for whatever reason? The point is, she shouldn’t have HAD to make the decision. I know you know that, so forgive me if that sounded condescending. I’m just saying I’ve sort of revised my thinking a little. She was in that situation because of his immoral and illegal acts. She made a different decision than I think I would have made. I just think the focus shouldn’t be on that – it should be on him. As long as we partially blame the victim…well, you know the rest.
Perfectly stated GNAT. These guys thrive in that industry because the women are especially vulnerable. You hear people dismissing their acting dreams as mere pursuit for fame, as though it were not as valid a vocation as wanting to be a dentist or a lawyer. A lot of the women who are targetted may be young and beautiful but they also happen to be poor and racing against youth because the window for actresses is so short. The men who harass them are not your average manager with a 60k annual income. These are incredibly wealthy, well connected people who besides ending your career, can ruin your private life with an easily orchestrated international smear campaign.
And whats worse is that, because of ignorant notions the meaning of “privillege”, these women dont get the same support that say a young lawyer would get if a distinguished lawyer from a different firm asked her to watch him shower.
I do not understand that as playing the game. I was in that situation once, and mostly answered the same way: Could not say yes – Cause nope. Could not say “no way in hell” -Cause, too dangerous for a job I loved and was very invested in. Would not say “yes but later”, even to stall and run away – Cause, too demeaning.
So I, “jokingly”, said that I would not get on my knees for such a small amount. Tights are so expensive these days, ah ah. And politely laugh, very quickly, to the door.
I wished and wish I had the power to kick him the balls. But I did not and I tried to find the best way out. In these situations you have a lot to think of and very little time to actually think.
I agree again, Naya. Many of this “mogul’s” girls are not just naive young ingenue but those who are pushing 30 (which ludicrously is “old” in Hwood) and desperately needing to break.
Actually, I think some actresses/actors play the game to survive. IMhO, I thought Judd bluffed her way out of that scenario.
Ditto Belle. I don’t like Ashley. I’m sorry this happened to her but it doesn’t change my dislike.
True about sexual harassment in many work forces but this is Hollywood and the industry has their own set of codes and standards. Let’s face it, money and power drives this mega industry. No it’s not right to abuse those powers, but people get Blacklisted if they say too much. I’m all for justice for all but Hollywood is notorious for the “Casting Couch” approach.
Yes! This happened to me but I was fortunately able to escape the situation…
I was 18 working at a restaurant in my town. The owner had a small coffee shop cafe that served meals. He was an older Middle Eastern man, very kind and gentle.
He wanted to expand and opened up another restaurant in a new shopping area a few blocks away. The new place was fancier, white tablecloth, full bar, etc. He hired a late 20’s white dude as the person to oversee things since he had fine dining experience. This guy was a major douche. Always trying to flirt with the very young waitresses, he would let us drink, etc. Sometimes, he would get out of line. Like one time I was putting in an order at the computer and he came up behind me and put his hand on my lower back. He’s like “oh you have dimples? We could never hang out outside of work.” I blew it off like, first of all bro I don’t have dimples. Second of all yeah don’t trip it would never happen anyways. Yeah, pervy/annoying but nothing truly out of the ordinary.
Fast forward a few months and he calls me one afternoon when I’m scheduled to come in for the evening shift. He’s like I need you to come in, right now. I’m like k, whatever, I’ll be there soon.
I get there and apparently he had been riding the owner’s motorcycle and crashed it, he was pretty scraped up on his legs and arms and wanted me to give him a ride home, like 30 miles away.
I said fine, no problem, drove to his house. He asked me if I wanted to come in for a drink. I was a party girl at the time, underage and buying booze was always a pain to get someone to go buy me a bottle (weekend struggles lol) so I was like yeah! I’ll get my buzz on here for free, fuck it.
So we get there and he pours me a drink and we go in his bedroom. Then he tried to kiss me!!!! I was like woah buddy back up, and I cut quickly. Awkward.
The very next week? He cut my schedule from 5-6 shifts down to 1 shift. I promptly quit and told the owner. He’s since gone and the owner invited me back several times but I was over it and moved on. This was almost 10 years ago. But you do face retaliation if you speak up or don’t comply. It’s awful.
I realize NOW that I should have never agreed to go inside, as that is asking for trouble. But I was young and innocent and never even saw it coming!! I will make sure when I have a daughter that she knows the deal. No one ever told me, as dumb as that sounds.
We need to teach our boys better than that. I think that’s the root of the issue. Right?
Right, BB. I was not all that young when I had my experience but I thought I was safe because we had a mutual friend. I thought surely he wouldn’t dare, and I was not raped, but he forced himself on me several ways and it was very traumatic. I had a gut feeling, but I ignored it, even though he was being rude by refusing to take me home. If he had been a nice person, he would have listened when I said he was making me uncomfortable, but he just kept insisting- just for a minute, blah blah. So yes, tell your daughter to listen to that feeling in her gut and be rude if she needs to be. I’m glad you got away from the manager and I’m glad he got fired.
Thanks GNAT. Agree 1000% that these men should not be even making these propositions. They prey on the weak/vulnerable. Young actresses are desperate to make it big in a corrupt industry.
Kudos to Ashley for speaking out. That’s the only way this will stop.
That is scary to think of one person having that much power and using it to abuse others. Hopefully other actresses will come forward and name who it is. But I think we all know who Ashley is talking about
Brian Singer and Kevin Spacey are the same, only they target young men. Spacey is known for harrassing men on film sets and at theater.
Hollywood is full of perverts and pedophiles.
Yep, did anyone see the Brave New Warriors Comic Con panel this year where Robert Kazinsky talks about being harrassed by a male producer and then Kevin Durant mentions a girlfriend years ago who was basically told to sleep with an agent if she wanted him to represent her.
Singer’s pool parties are legendary in Hollywood. Those two prey on young, vulnerable gay actors and Spacey is one of the worst abusers. Google Datalounge Kevin Spacey and spend the morning reading. I’ll warn you, don’t eat breakfast first, as some of the first person stories will make you want to rage, then hurl.
@Lindy79 Even agents, who are supposedly employed by the client, are in on the act? Gross.
Anybody remember Alex Burton? He played Pyro in the first X men and then made the mistake of telling a reporter that his audition was a “jacuzzi” session with Bryan Singer. His role was recast in the subsequent movies and he hasnt appeared in a Hollywood movie in ten years. Speaking out has consequences.
I read about Spacey and the stories about him sound scary. He makes me uncomfortable and it’s crazy how he gets a free pass.
@H: I just googled your suggestion for DataLounge Kevin Spacey. All the stories sound too similar to be made up. I do feel ill after reading some of them
omg i googled your suggestion. just disturbing and disgusting…
I was hearing first hand stories of Kevin Spacey steeze 20 yrs ago in NY, so I believe all of it.
I started to believe all the Kevin Spacey rumours when he was “mugged walking his dog” at 4am in a London park (which has a gay stroll). I think he’s a major sleazeball just like Singer.
Kevin Spacey?? Oh, man, I liked him!! Bummer.
They won’t. The women with enough celebrity probably aren’t willing to risk their careers or future Oscars.
the Holy Wood of Hollywood…
yuck. eh i just grossed myself out.
I immediately thought it was Harvey Weinstein, BUT that Harvey produced a couple of her films eg FRIDA years after this incident, and Salma Hayek was very protective of that production, so perhaps this is a completely different producer. It’s not as if this behaviour is limited to one person.
i guess he doesn’t harass the celebrities .Do you believe that he harass JLaw now ?
I’m starting to believe JLAW was in his stable. Those photos were rife with casting couch rumors when they were leaked.
Yes jlaw is only jlaw because she is his girl. it was painfully obvious she was during award season.
@K @ OverFirstAve: I think HW practiced casting couch with JLaw ( it explained why she had the role in SLP whereas she is too young) but I don’t believe he continue now
There is no doubt that is how some of them got to be celebrities. Don’t forget, many with strong talent also have several insecurities. You mix in a lot of those ingredients — sometimes unstable and/or alienated childhoods, economic hardships, “aging” in Hollywood (which is grotesquely 25-30 in Hwood) right at or right before making it big, huge career ambitions (Oscars, name recognition) — and you see so many of his repeat actresses. It does make me sad for them in so many ways.
It’s definitely Harvey Weinstein, which is why the blogs aren’t mentioning his name they don’t want to get sued.
The thing is and I know it sounds weird but the guy has never had a good looking body. I realise this is about power for him but Lordy, Lordy me seriously he must be beyond body conscious. I can’t fathom a women in power and of the larger side issuing this type of abuse( not saying it couldn’t happen). What a pig and the things I’ve read about him, especially gretcen. I can’t help but I see what others have being subjected to.
Men don’t think about their looks and bodies, like women do….look at Bill Cosby, he actually convinced himself that all his victims WANTED him….
I know MRSBPITT, just so hard to scrape my head around.
Men have a self-confidence about themselves that I wish women did bodywise.
That’s not “self-confidence”; it’s narcissism.
Yeah when they get a certain amount of fame/wealth/power, they see themselves as a great and amazing human that doesn’t need to focus on their own body or looks… that just the way they are physically (even if obese), any woman should be so lucky.
I admire her for putting this out there. On another note, I could buy her attitude re: feminism a little easier if she would lay off of her face.
What does her feminism have to do with her face? She can do whatever the hell she wants.
This just makes me sad. I didn’t get much sleep last night, or I would probably be angry. But what a world we live in. I think of all the women down through the ages, and what has been endured just to survive. Humiliation, degradation, rape, harassment…because of men and their grip on the power and their abuse of the power. There are so many fine, honest men. But so many of them just suck.
I agree GNAT, and I was so sorry to read of your personal association with this post, it should never have happened. the imbalance of power thing is a very gnarly problem. I cannot understand why so many men seem to be slaves to their ridiculous plumbing, so much so that even when nature says they should give it up (ED), the pharmaceutical industry goes above and beyond to develop drugs to perpetuate the whole catastrophe. Is it just egomania or a primordial urge to pass on their genes? Whatever it may be, surely we can raise our boys to do better than this. It is such a huge problem, and will only begin to be solved when all genders are treated as equal, and worthy, of simple human respect and dignity.
Yes, thank you. I thought about my post, and I know there are jerky women, too. But so many men do seem to have this idea that they are entitled to take what they want from women by any means. Your last sentence says it all.
I feel much sympathy for the ambitious actresses he’s not only gotten nominations for, but wins…
This….actually explains a lot. If his kink is mostly a kind of voyerism it would be easier to coerce young woman (no touching). Easier for many people to brush off as “no big deal”. Then over time if one or two agree to something more, it’s “consensual”. I feel a little sick.
A lot harder to prove too, no physical evidence whatsoever and easy to convince women that it’s no big deal or they’re overreacting.
Blame these hysterical over sensitive women
Bingo!
If the boss asks any employee or potential employee to watch him shower then this is abuse of power. Period.
SO THIS IS WHY GOOP HAS AN OSCAR!!!! I could never figure that one out…makes sense now!
And we thought it was just because she took a script from her friend, or however that story went.
JLAW.
Was JLAWS first Oscar Nomination for Wintersbone also a Harvey film?
Just feeling the need to point out that sexual harassment is certainly not confined to Hollywood actresses … I had to quit one job in early 20s because of it and it happened in mid 30s as well. Only that boss waited until I was transferred to another department to make his move.
This is so true people act like it’s just a horrible evil Hollywood thing but it isn’t. Happens everywhere. It just get more attention in Hollywood.
Sorry that happened to you. Terrible.
It happens in every kind of job, everywhere.
Sadly, it also happens to young, underage Hollywood actors – and usually messes them up for life, no Oscars in their future.
This is exactly why this story is so easy to believe. I think most of us have experienced some degree of this at some point in our lives. It’s easy to see that opportunities can be lost by saying no and it would be a slippery slope to something worse if you say yes.
Ashley Judd worked with Weinstein’s Company after 1997 though. Which would contradict her statement.
What would she have to lose at this point by naming him? Or at least giving a more direct hint.
He would sue her to high heaven, dig up every mistake she has ever made and have her name or those of her loved ones dragged through the mud and then have her blacklisted from the industry. And thats just assuming he plays clean. He could also pull Scientologist tactics like having her stalked for decades or just an unfortunate “accident”.
Interesting timing, though. She has a movie coming out this week.
And I agree with a poster upthread — How can anyone be sure it’s HW? Could be another bigwig. I can think of a few other names that it could be.
Ashley is so cute in this photo, I’m glad she’s getting this off her chest.
Harvey Weinstein, David O’Russell, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are a power quartet. Don’t forget Weinstein, O’Russell and Cooper produced American Hustle with the huge wage disparity that kick started the whole debate about equality in wages. Lawrence came in late to do a very small role and had her part rewritten and extended during filming to position her for another oscar nomination, even at the expense of the storyline. It always irritates me that Lawrence is the one held up as the victim in this set up,when it was Amy Adams that was treated badly. Lawrence was paid the same as Adams, but Adams was the leading lady. Adams came on early with Cooper, Bale and Renner. Bale came and went a few times so the male leads shifted around a bit and I think that is why they all ended up on the same wage. The issue is why Adams wasn’t on the same. Once Adams was fixed at a lower rate they couldn’t pay Lawrence more since she had a much smaller role and at the time of signing she wasn’t the huge star she is now and wasn’t really a bigger name than Adams. Also do not forget that there were stories about O’Russell being really mean to Amy on set and Bale stepping up to defend her. Why didn’t Cooper do anything? He was in lots of scenes with her and he was a producer. Renner had virtually no scenes with Adams and Lawrence only filmed for a couple of weeks, so I let them off.
So whatever the power games of men like Weinstein and O’Russell it seems that even 5 oscar nominations and a reputation as one of the most liked and respected actors in Hollywood will not help you. It is interesting that Cooper and Lawrence have jumped straight back on that train, whilst Adams has gone off to film with Renner. I would be very surprised if Bale has anything to do with them again.
Clearly Amy won’t do the favors for Weinstein jlaw does, hence the lack of Oscar, fair treatment or any press during that movie. Harvey campaigned for Lawrence. Amy actually can act sorry still waiting to be wowed by Lawrence and is fine but she isn’t Oscar worthy.
Amy Adams >>>>>> Jennifer Lawrence, in terms of talent. Jennifer just has infinitely more celebrity status to her name.
Really? Because AA has gained quite a bit from HW and DOR for that matter and she continues to go back to work for them. She just doesn’t have the bankability of JLaw due to Hunger Games zeitgeist. AA is talented, but don’t think she is a complete weakling. She couldn’t be and lasted this long in Hwood.
I love Amy. For my money, she nailed her part in The Fighter – and the accent, too! Seriously, though, she could’ve easily gone the America’s Sweetheart route, but from the start, she’s chosen interesting roles and consistently delivered good performances.
As far as I can tell, Amy also seems to keep her personal life mostly private and doesn’t do a lot of press. She should’ve won an Oscar by now, and I certainly hope it’s not because she won’t play ball with the men in power. As if all the crass marketing and hype during awards season weren’t bad enough…
Yeah, JLaw was great in Winter’s Bone, but now that I think about it, she was not much different as Katniss in Hunger Games. And her parts in the DOR trilogy? All pretty much the same sassy, loud, obnoxiousness to me.
No wonder Jack Nicholson hit on JLaw because he probably figured she’d give it up to any old guy. And if she did so for HG, then no wonder she expresses so much insecurity and self-loathing now. That’s the price she paid, sad to say.
*Oops, HW not HG.*
JLaw’s role wasn’t made bigger, it was made smaller. O Russell wanted her part to be much bigger but she only had two weeks to film due to her Hunger Games commitments.
She was paid extra to do promotional duties, something she could have mostly gotten out of due to the size of her role.
Adams got an Oscar nom for Hustle too, as she did for The Fighter and The Master, all Weinstein films. As was Big Eyes, and she was given a pretty big push for that and even won a GG, despite the film being terrible.
If you’re going to assume JLaw benefited from the casting couch, then I don’t know why you’d assume Amy, who’s worked with Weinstein more and gotten 3 Oscar noms, 4 BAFTA noms and 2 GG’s from that collaboration, is somehow different.
Yeah, Adams has benefitted far more from HW than JLaw did. JLaw’s fame came primariy from Hunger Games before the Oscars.
On a much lighter note — Has anyone seen the photos of her mother and sister in Vegas this week? Naomi needs a new stylist, stat!
We would have a very easy time with weave watch, if those photos were posted here.
Don’t usually comment, but have to here: this is big news / talk beyond the hollo-wood connection. Her words could be those of many of us world-wide:
– “I did not recognize at the time what was happening to me. It took years before I could evaluate that incident and realize that there was something incredibly wrong and illegal about it.”
– ” I have a feeling we are a legion.”
– “I was weaseling out of everything….” (why we feel dirty/but how we got out of it — so f-off with your judgments….)
Even if dozens of women come forward to tell their experiences of sexploitation/harassment/abuse in Hollywood I can’t see the system changing anytime soon. Society as a whole tolerates massive inequality across the board and until that’s tackled this behaviour will continue because there is no real social penalties to stop it.
People still go and watch Allen and Polanski’s films, even Cate Blanchette was prepared to close their eyes to the accusations against Allan from his own daughter and work with him for the sake of her career (ex fan here) Magazine still hire Terry Richardson, young models are still sent to him like lambs to the slaughter, none of the complaints about him have resulted in any legal action. Bill Cosby has got away with drugging women and raping them despite the bravery of those women he abused speaking out.
I don’t have any answers to this except to continue to argue for equality. Until human beings are afforded the automatic respect they deserve, regardless of skin tone, orientation, gender these kind of abuses will continue unabated because the perpetrators who have the power can and will abuse. Depressing thought.
Does anyone else think that Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lawrence are just middling (if that) actresses? Because I’ve always assumed that their Oscars were awarded for something other than their on-screen acting. Both over-hyped, and insufferable IMO.
I enjoy classic movies (my favorites are usually 1930s-1950s). It amazes me how many allegedly carried on affairs, encounters and even marriages to boost their careers. Some of the ‘award winning’ performances of that era are highly questionable as well.
It has been a smarmy business for a really long time. Casting couch stories have existed for decades.
Christin, I, too, love movies from the 30s through the 70s (and even a few from the 80s). That I watch so many, just trying to get through my Netflix dvd queue, is one of the reasons I’ve missed so many modern movies of the last ten years…
As you said, though, Hollywood history is full of the sordid stories of those who sold their souls – and run by people in power who never had them in the first place.
I’ve missed a lot of the movies the past decade as well! I also have some favorites from the 1960s-early 90s.
The backstory to some of the producers/directors/actors is mind-boggling. Such a sordid business, from the very beginning.
I think Gwyneth with a producer father and mother in the industry for decades helped her and she didn’t have to go through the casting couch harassment thing on the level of some others. Also she was Excellent in the role she won the Oscar for, IMO.
I think GP deserved her Oscar.
I thought she was good, but she was up against Blanchette for the first Elizabeth movie, and she was great in that!! I thought Blanchette deserved the Oscar over Goop.
Sandy both are two women that have oscars who don’t deserve them. so with you. Mediocre at best. Not award worthy.
Jlaw had an Oscar nomination before she ever worked for the alleged perpretator. She was already cast in the hunger games before SLP, she was going to be a star. I don’t know about Paltrow that’s before my time but I would never say something like that about a specific individual however much I dislike them.
I think it’s gross that you make this accusation without any proof whatsoever.
Particularly since Judd. ( I checked) herself worked for the company in question even though she resisted his advances. Just because someone worked with him doesn’t mean they gave into his advances. you seem to decide that because you dont find people talented the only reason they got movie parts would be sleeping with this person.
Jlaw in particular was an actress who was winning awards Since her teenage years so clearly your taste is not in line with critics and directors who work in the industry.
I am not even her fan but you are no better than a misogynist. You are more interested in slutshaming people you dislike than intelligent discussing.
Honestly, GP’s Emma is one of my favorite movies. She’s hilarious. And I liked her in Moonlight and Valentino. I never got her forays into comedy. She kind of hit the sweet spot with fashion dramas like Great Expectations and that one with Michael Douglas (that wasn’t any good, but beautifully styled) and The Talented Mr. Ripley. I even liked her in Duets. My second favorite movie of hers was Sliding Doors.
I think she’s fine. Nothing incredible but nothing terrible either.
Great in Emma and Sliding Doors. Haven’t seen Shakespeare in Love.
As much as I’m glad that she is speaking about it, I wish people would use his name if they tell those stories. It shouldn’t be that women are shamed into referring to themselves as the victims, but can’t tell who the abuser is, because Hollywood protects its sexist and abusive douchebags. She should be able to name him without having to fear for her career. (I think that’s the only reason why she doesn’t calls him out.)
Harvey Weinstein is an abusive asshole who shouldn’t be a big player in Hollywood but be the lowest of lowlives in prison.
Doubt it will ever happen, but a girl can dream.
Well, given that online media is so much different than even ten years ago, with cellphones and constant chatter everywhere, the public is taking control as gossip sites like this one proliferate and sometimes even dictate the conversation…
Since HW, Sony, Scientology, etc. can’t come after all of us here, we can pretty much say whatever we want without recrimination, so maybe she’s putting it out there with the idea that the public now knows who she’s talking about – and we’ll run with it.
Has anyone ever had that moment where they are sitting at their desk at work, innocently read an article and just gag? Because that just happened to me. I don’t care if Liev Schreiber, yes, the movie star love of my life (I would take a lot of will power) asked me to watch him do anything aside from discussing business, the answer is NO! I can’t believe this! Man, as much entertainment as this industry provides, it truly is sick.
Lots of things anger me about this, particularly the fact that because she has a reputation of being difficult and a little bit “out there,” people will be quick to disbelieve her or to say she’s overreacting.
I don’t like to share much (if anything at all) about myself, but 6 years ago a male friend of mine tried to have s*x with me. Luckily for me I was able to get him off of me, but ever since then I’ve carried this anger and shame, among other things. And the worse part is that because I have a reputation of being difficult and a b*tch and “crazy” because I’m not afraid to talk about my depression, few people will actually believe me. This is why I didn’t tell many people and this is why even after the fact I figured I had no other choice but to keep the up the pretense of friendship with this guy around our other friends. I figured that our guy friends wouldn’t believe me anyway and would just take his side because a) I’m a woman and b) my previously mentioned reputation. I only revealed to two of them what happened and who he is and one of them “coincidentally” started hanging out with the jerk more often. And all I think about is how this guy probably doesn’t buy what happened with the jerk. These men definitely know who to target.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. I only told a few close friends about what happened to me because I knew no one would believe me. I made a bad decision to go somewhere alone with this man, and it’s a long story but I had no idea what would happen. But all people would have to hear is I went into his house alone. Sometimes I wonder if I could have prevented him from hurting anyone else if I’d come forward, and I feel ashamed of that. But neither of us should feel ashamed of what happened. They had no right. THEY should be ashamed.
Thank you for your empathy. They should be ashamed and we shouldn’t, but you know it’s easier said than done. I think it’s so unfortunate that people will probably blast Ashley Judd because of her reputation. Yes, she’s difficult but she’s a person and nobody has the right to harass another human being.
I am not stalking you GNAT, but both your and Asiyah’s experiences really resonated with me. Years and years and years ago, a similar thing happened to me. I have never spoken about it, and I blamed my own stupidity at the time, and have all but forgotten about it. I have since learned to live with it by knowing that no one can see around corners, and you can never really know what is in another person’s head. You are not responsible for the cavemen like attitudes of some men, and they do not get to dictate how you live the rest of your life. I like to think that not allowing him agency over my power, and living with an optimistic and carefully trusting attitude is the best revenge I can have. I just wish you both every happiness and healing.
I agree, Asiyah, it is easier said than done.
Thank you so much, antipodean. I have healed and learned to trust again, but also learned not to be afraid to offend someone if they are making me uncomfortable. That’s all I can do. I made a mistake, but I did not deserve the price for it. I won’t pay another price, losing out on life, because of him. He isn’t worth it. I wish you happiness and healing, too.
@antipodean
Thank you. I don’t know when but one day I will be healed.
It does make you wonder where exactly her reputation for being “difficult” came from, though, doesn’t it? Funny how that works…
Very true, though Lainey had a blind a few years ago about how Ashley Judd used to give you stones if she wanted to talk to you. Something like that. But that makes her “weird” if true, not difficult.
When she describes the predator’s behaviour, it rings absolutely spot on and true.
The comments about Singer and those pool parties really were creepy and the exposure of children being vulnerable should have been taken seriously, yet again payoffs, and everyone got quite no more “incidences “. Even that movie about those cases was quickly erased.
The problem with Singer’s swimming pool parties ( for ex) is that if many know Singer is creepy ( he likes the young guys and the orgies ) , many know everyone is consent .
The mogul she is referring too still has some of the top actresses who stress that they are pro women rights but are willing to work with him to get that possible oscar. Especially one older actress who won her last oscar working with him. Yet, she continues to protest the lack of equality in Hollywood while saying yes to his job offers. She is considered one of the great ones and a legend. But every time she says yes to this mogul, she too is part of the problem.
You nail a point .i think Blanchett or Streep ( for example) don’t care with who she works as longtime as they win awards .
I remember a story about 2 actors refusing to work with a director on a big project because of the director’s gay swimming pool orgies and the rumors of casting couch with young actors
It’s really disappointing that some commentators on this thread are more interested in naming and shaming any women who has been in a movie produced by the alleged perprator rather than discussing the power structure and system that allows this to happen
It’s misigynistic in its own right. Also just because someone has been in a movie by this individual doesn’t mean they gave him sexual favours. Judd herself has been in movies by the company and she didn’t comply to give him sexual favours according to this story.
you are right but here many also point the hypocrisy of some A list actors or powerful persons
Indeed!
Thank you.
Ashley Judd has spoken openly about being sexually abused by a male relative as a young girl. She has also spoken openly about her mother’s sleazy boyfriends coming on to her and listening to her mother having loud sex in the next room as a child. She had a completely dysfunctional upbringing and was exposed to some pretty horrific situations as a young girl, so I imagine trying to come to grips with that exposure to the seedy side of sexuality at such a tender age has caused her some problems. That she chose to go into a career that exposed her to the likes of Harvey Wienstein and others of his ilk may be related to her thinking that her only worth is her sexuality. Appalling that this is still happening in a supposedly enlightened society….may Harvey and his ilk find a special place in hell someday for their misdemeanors against women. And I appreciate her candidness in exposing a dirty experience.
This sure makes his wife Georgina Chapman look like the grossest gold digger ever. Marrying for money is bad enough. But knowing the man is a manipulative predator?