It seems as though actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan are a part of the vocal few to publicly accuses Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment. On Friday night, Oct. 6, McGowan demanded support on Twitter from more women in Hollywood. She writes in a series of tweets: “Ladies of Hollywood your silence is deafening”; “Yes, ladies of Hollywood where are you?”; “This excludes #patricia #lena #amber #Brie Get brave.” She gave Patricia Arquette, Lena Denham, Amber Tamblyn and Brie Larson a pass because they have spoken out and stepped up.
Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow, who have all won Oscars for starring in Weinstein films, have not publicly commented. Also on this list are Kate Hudson, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Toni Collette, Minnie Driver and Uma Thurman. It’s believed that these actresses are mum on the issue because they have signed nondisclosure agreements. But many of them have had no problem publicly praising Weinstein and denouncing harassment, but never connecting the two subjects in the same statement.
A day after the news story broke, a third of the nine-man board at the Weinstein Company company resigned in protest. Harvey Weinstein has taken an indefinite leave from the company.
Actress American Ferrera tweeted: “The abuse of power must be called out, however powerful the abuser, and we must publicly stand with those brave enough to come forward.”
A New York Times report says Weinstein has settled eight sexual harassment claims. McGowan reportedly accepted a $100,000 settlement in the mid-1990s. The Huffington Post broke a jaw dropping story on Friday.
Lauren Sivan, a former FOX New reporter, in an on-record interview, reveals details of her own Harvey Weinstein experience which left her shocked and quiet because she was in a long-term relationship and fearful of his power in media. It happened a decade ago.
“Sivan recalled that, while at the club, Weinstein asked her to join him on a tour of its restaurant, Cafe Socialista. Sivan said she reluctantly agreed and they went downstairs to the restaurant. Once Sivan and Weinstein were downstairs they chatted and he showed her the cafe.
“He then took her to the kitchen (the restaurant was closed by that time), where a couple of staffers were cleaning up.
“Weinstein then dismissed the two staffers in the kitchen.
“Once they left, Sivan says Weinstein leaned in and tried to kiss her. Sivan rejected that attempt and told him she had a long-term boyfriend. Weinstein then said to Sivan, ‘Well, can you just stand there and shut up.’
“Weinstein then proceeded to expose himself to Sivan and began to masturbate. Sivan said she was deeply shocked by Weinstein’s behavior and was frozen and didn’t know what to do or say. The incident in the vestibule didn’t last long. Sivan says Weinstein ejaculated quickly into a potted plant that was in the vestibule and then proceeded to zip up his pants and they walked back into the kitchen.”
Check out the tweets in the gallery.
