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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Harvey Weinstein

993 replies

caperberries · 06/10/2017 09:17

Rumours have been circulating about this disgusting man and his sleazy casting couch for years... He has offered a half-hearted apology, but seems rather smug about the fact that his family are supporting him.

AIBU to think his wife is misguided? What sort of example is she setting to her daughter? After all, this isn't a one-off - it is a pattern of serious abuse of women over decades.

www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html

OP posts:
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10
Smitff · 09/10/2017 19:12

On the question of why there hasn't been more outrage on here (MN), I have a horrible feeling it's because in secret people have always "known" (know/ think they know/ believe/ suspect - whatever) that actresses, and some actors, sleep their way to the best roles and do so willingly: i.e. that they knew and accepted it's part of the game and played on that basis.

I'm not for one second suggesting that it's right or anything approaching that. I'm saying that the MN massive and imo lots of people outside of Hollywood are thinking "well what did you think? Surely this isn't news?" and that this is why they can't be bothered to be outraged.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 19:20

Even "casting couch culture" makes me feel sick. Why the euphemism? Call it what it is. Abuse.

FrayedHem · 09/10/2017 19:34

I don't think the Hollywood's elite stay quiet due to a lack of outrage. I think it's more likely worrying that they will be exposed over their own secrets &/or falling out of favour with Directors/Producers/Studios. You only have to look at the "free Polanski" petition a few years ago to see how they roll.

Olaf4fuxache · 09/10/2017 19:55

CS paying for it now!

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 19:58

What's CS?

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 09/10/2017 20:06

I wonder what else will come out now, he has started to fall, it will give others courage, he is such a powerful figure. It makes me feel utter despair. How awful for his children - his own daughters. Sad

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 20:31

I wonder what else will come out now, he has started to fall

Me too, hopefully it's the beginning of the end for the whole disgusting culture.
One can only hope, as long as it doesn't get brushed aside and forgotten about after a while Sad

Raisedbyguineapigs · 09/10/2017 20:35

smitff I suspect you are right. I assumed it was common knowledge that actors and actresses have always willingly slept with casting directors and movie moguls to get work. I'm nowhere near anything in the movie business, I just love film, so it does make me sad to think that this is the case. It's only interesting that now people are being exposed whereas before it was just what you did.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 20:48

I read that Drew Barrymore said she was wandering around clubs drinking and doing drugs. She was 10.

Drew Barrymore's troubles with drink etc from a young age is well known, but my God, if it's 10 that's awful.
I've a 10 year old. He's so small. I'm sorry, but where's the parents if that's the case? How are they even able to drink/smoke or anything like that at the age of 10? I'm with him all the time at that age (barring when he's at school or letting him walk to the local shop at the end of the street.
Sorry, not derailing I just can't get my head round it. As for Corey Haim, apparently he was 11 when he was abused from what I read today.
FFS, it's sickening - whichever sick fuck did it I hope they get exposed soon. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end.

TrickOrRuddyTreat · 09/10/2017 20:48

One of the things that really got me was that when he was asked about Ashley Judd's comments he brought up the fact she has suffered abuse in the past, as if to suggest that was a factor in her reaction to his behaviour (the old hysterical woman bit).

I'm not impressed with Meryl Streep's statement either, I don't believe for a second she hadn't heard any of the rumours and given her support of Polanski she doesn't have a great track record in supporting abuse victims.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 20:53

I have a horrible feeling it's because in secret people have always "known" (know/ think they know/ believe/ suspect - whatever) that actresses, and some actors, sleep their way to the best roles and do so willingly: i.e. that they knew and accepted it's part of the game and played on that basis.

how can people automatically think "ah, they sleep their way to the top, they want it..." - why not stop to think that might not be the case and that they felt they had to/forced into it.

megletthesecond · 09/10/2017 20:57

If I'd heard of the rumours for a few years, thinly disguised on gossip sites, then I fail to see how Streep missed it.

Raisedbyguineapigs · 09/10/2017 20:59

I don't believe Streep for a second either.

Raisedbyguineapigs · 09/10/2017 21:04

I dont think saying they accepted something is the same as saying they wanted it. What young woman would want to be pawed by someone as disgusting as Weinstein? They might have thought that it was the only way to get parts in any films and was a price worth paying to get a foothold. He had the power to blackball them throughout the industry.

Dapplegrey2 · 09/10/2017 21:08

Meryl's spoken out now that HW is safely sacked. What a bunch of hypocrites they all are.
This.

hollyisalovelyname · 09/10/2017 21:08

Itsanicehotel
I agree with your post at 16.37 today.
I too am surprised that George Clooney hasn't said anything. Unlike him not to have an opinion. And he is married to a human rights lawyer.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 21:10

Meryl's spoken out now that HW is safely sacked. What a bunch of hypocrites they all are

Certainly seems that way.

BagelGoesWalking · 09/10/2017 21:20

Front Row on R4 tonight questioned the lack of reaction by liberal US talk show hosts like Stephen Colbert etc. Apparently, none of them have talked about it on their shows, except Brit Steven Oliver. They contrasted this with their views on Trump and other right-wingers.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 21:30

Bagel I've seen the same said all over Twitter today. I'm no fan but how people are quick to condemn Trump but deafeningly silent on this.

derxa · 09/10/2017 21:32

Weinstein was a major donor to the Democrats.

KrytensNanobots · 09/10/2017 21:40

Weinstein was a major donor to the Democrats.

It does all seem to be interwoven with politics, abuse shouldn't even be a political issue.
If people are going to scream abuse, shouldn't be allowed etc, that should stretch to everyone. Not go deafeningly silent when it's one of their own "side" doing the abusing.

southeastdweller · 09/10/2017 21:58

I love Meryl, but FFS, pull the other one!

Interesting that one of her friends and peers, Glenn Close, admits she had some idea of what he was up to:
www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/movies/dench-close-streep-weinstein.html

Want2bSupermum · 09/10/2017 21:58

The reason this is major news is because people like HW were one of the powerful people who have really gone against trump. It's also exactly why people didn't vote for Hilary Clinton at the last election. It's not that so many people voted for Trump, as can been seen from low voter turnout, but that they didn't go to vote for Hilary Clinton. People are fed up of the double standards around sexism and racism.

Puerto Rico right now is being billed as Trump showing his administration is racist. I don't think that is true. I think the island faces unique challenges that neither Florida or Texas presented. Trump was also an idiot when he went to visit and gave the press enough material for the next year. I mean who throws paper towels to a crowd who have just been flooded out?!?!? Then five mins later he was joking about PR putting America more into debt. It's not funny. This is real life for any Puerto Rican. It was distasteful to the extreme however I don't think it was racist at all just extremely rude.

ZestyDragon · 09/10/2017 22:01

My understanding is that Corey Haim's rapist (allegedly CS) was pretty much untouchable until recently but I did think Corey Feldman had named him at one point and went into some detail. So very sad and horrific.

southeastdweller · 09/10/2017 22:05

Nicole Kidman was married to Tom Cruise not long after she broke through with her role in Dead Calm. That would have protected her from HW

Yes, but she didn't make it REALLY big until she did The Hours, which HW co-marketed with Paramount and she won the Oscar for.