From the Archives: The ‘Weinstein effect’ which triggered #MeToo and the Time’s Up movement, which is making headlines around the world.
Once credited for transforming the world of cinema by producing and distributing many independent movies including ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and ‘Good Will Hunting’, Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein appeared to have it all - money, power, status and success. A huge presence on the red carpet, Weinstein’s name became intrinsically linked with award season - accumulating countless nominations and accolades for his movies and box office success and appearing on many a nominee’s thank you list. Alongside his production companies, Miramax and more recently The Weinstein Company, both of which he co-founded with his brother Bob, Weinstein is believed to be the man responsible for launching many actors’ careers. It is therefore unsurprising that when in October 2017 news broke that Harvey Weinstein had been accused by a number of these women of sexual harassment and assault, behaviour that is said to have been going on for decades, shockwaves were sent soaring through the entertainment industry.
It is a scandal that first materialised from a story that was published in the New York Times and has since become more incredulous as the months have flown by, with Weinstein’s accusers (a list that includes some of Hollywood’s leading ladies, the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman), continuing to come forward with their own stories of harassment almost every day. Yet, while allegations of Weinstein as some sort of sexual predator made headlines around the world (allegations which he has denied), it would appear that these revelations did not come as a shock to everyone as word soon spread that Weinstein’s alleged sexual misconduct was Hollywood’s best kept “open secret”.
After the story, which has sparked Weinstein’s downfall, surfaced what has been even more horrifying is the number of allegations made against other leading figures in the entertainment industry that have transpired since. Allegations which include, but are not limited to, the actors Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Affleck, 'Gossip Girl’s’ Ed Westwick, James Franco and more recently Michael Fassbender, celebrity chef Mario Batali, news journalists Charlie Rose, Ryan Seacrest and Matt Lauer, creator of American TV hit series ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘The Royals’ - Mark Schwahn and writer, director and actor - Woody Allen. These stories have become known as ‘the Weinstein effect’ and have as a consequence triggered the #MeToo movement which took over social media in the latter end of last year and subsequently the Time’s Up movement, which took centre stage at this year’s Golden Globe Awards and has hereon in dominated the award circuit.
The term #Me Too was first used by American activist Tarana Burke back in 2006 to highlight the ubiquitous nature of sexual misconduct and it was then actress Alyssa Milano, of ‘Charmed’ fame, who following on from the news of Harvey Weinstein urged women to use the hashtag #Me Too on Twitter to bring people’s attention to the gravity of the situation and how many women, not just celebrities, are out there who have experienced sexual harassment or sexual abuse. It was then on 1st January 2018 that the Time’s Up movement was established. It is a legal defense fund created by some of Hollywood’s biggest names in film, television and theatre, which include Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, America Ferrera, the creator of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal’ - Shonda Rhimes, Michelle Williams, Emma Watson, Ellen Pompeo, Sophia Bush, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone. Its purpose is to offer support to those women who have been sexually harassed or abused and to promote change in the workplace across all industries.
Since these two movements first came to light, the award season has been less about the winners and the fashion and all about girl power and the power of speech. Who can forget, Oprah’s Winfrey’s award winning speech at the Golden Globe Awards, when she took to the stage to receive her Cecil B. de Mille award, which led to many speculating that she will run for office in the year 2020.
What all of this means for the future of Hollywood is hard to comprehend, but undoubtedly interesting times lie ahead as the women of Tinsel Town have started a very important conversation, one that has been going on for years and one that is bound to be continued for many years to come, to end harassment and discrimination against women. The time to act is now.
