People may actually think that being a celebrity is like the best job in the world, being rich and famous makes everything possible. What most people don’t know is that there are actually a lot of celebrities that have struggled so much before they actually make it into the top, unfortunately some of them even had to go through some traumatic and inhumane experiences under the hands of some powerful people in the industry.
There are indeed a lot of people in the entertainment industry who think that they could manipulate people and use them however they want just because they have connections that could either push or ruin someone’s career. In fact, this is what a lot of women have been claiming for months now against one of the biggest film producers in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein. Continue reading to find out how exactly these claims started up to his arrest a few days ago.
The Power of #MeToo
It was in October 2017 when New York Times published a story that claims some women have told a detailed story regarding the film producer.
Weinstein allegedly harassed them and physically assaulted them, some even said that they were forced to massage him while in order for them to make it big into the Hollywood scene. It has definitely triggered a lot of women in the industry and as it turns out, there are more celebrities that have suffered from this type of abuse as well. Some of the few actresses who came forward were Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.
After these allegations came out, Weinstein then released an official apology admitting that he actually “caused a lot of pain” towards some women and he apologized for it. Weinstein added that he respects these women which is why he regrets what he did to them for the past three decades.
What took you so long Harvey? pic.twitter.com/MUFB34fWai
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) May 25, 2018
We got you, Harvey Weinstein, we got you
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) May 25, 2018
However, his legal representation revealed that they are planning on suing New York Times. He had also taken a leave of absence from his company. He is one of the founders of production companies such as Miramax and Weinstein Company, that produced Oscar-winning films such as Shakespeare in Love and The King’s Speech. With over 90 women including celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale, Cate Blanchett, Cara Delevingne, Eva Green, Salma Hayek, Minka Kelly and more, Weinstein got suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and was even terminated from his position at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
His wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman also decided to file a divorce against him because of all these allegations. This then led to women empowering the #MeToo campaign, wherein it has led to more and more women, not just those who are in the industry, found the courage to actually speak up and not be scared to let their stories of assault and harassment be heard to find justice. The New York and Los Angeles police department have both been investigating the case.
Weinstein Finally Surrendered
On the 25th of May, the 66-year-old film producer turned himself into New York City police department after being accused of multiple charges of assault, misconduct, and harassment. The prosecutor read the chargers in the New York Criminal Court that says Weinstein have used his power and money to use women who are trying to make it into the industry for his own inappropriate intentions in situations wherein he violated them physically.
He then paid $1 million for the bail and had to surrender his passport to his authorities. Weinstein also had to wear an electronic monitoring device at all times and cannot travel anywhere expecting within New York and Connecticut. His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, that he and some of the other members of Weinstein’s legal team are now working on a not-guilty plea for the film producer after he had been charged with not just one, but three felonies.
Celebrities such as Rose McGowan reacted to this arrest via Twitter where she posted “we got you” as if talking to the film producer himself. Anne Hathaway also posted a statement on her official Instagram account via Time’s Up whereas comedienne Kathy Griffin couldn’t contain her emotions in her reaction that she posted on her Twitter page.