The Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse and harassment allegations have led to many celebrities’ speaking out against predators within their industry and others coming forward to reveal their own stories of abuse and harassment.
One major issue attached to this Hollywood scandal is the celebrities who were at least partially aware of Weinstein’s behavior and did nothing to help.
Matt Damon recently admitted in a “Good Morning America” interview that he and Ben Affleck knew of Weinstein’s alleged harassment of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, yet both continued to work with the producer.
Actress Rose McGowan, who was one of the actresses to reach a settlement with Weinstein after he allegedly abused her in the ’90s, also claimed on Twitter that she had confided in Affleck about her experience with Weinstein, and the “Justice League” actor had essentially shrugged it off.
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Film director Quentin Tarantino is another example of someone who partially knew what was going on and did not speak out.
He recently said it is a decision he now regrets.
“I knew enough to do more than I did,” the director told The New York Times. “There was more to it than just the normal rumors, the normal gossip. It wasn’t second hand. I knew he did a couple of these things.”
“I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard,” he added. “If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had not to work with him.”
Ironically, Tarantino has had no issue speaking out on social issues in the past. Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, he told Entertainment Online that gun control was necessary for the country. He also expressed he was unhappy with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposed travel ban that would prevent some Muslims from entering the United States.
Related: Tarantino on Weinstein: ‘I Knew Enough to Do More Than I Did’
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Tarantino told the Associated Press at the premiere of “The Hateful Eight” in December of 2015. “Let him keep saying that stuff. It will make it all the funner [sic] when Hillary gets into office.”
When it came to his own industry, however, Tarantino stayed silent. Damon and Affleck are just as politically and socially outspoken, and it appears they also did not do enough to prevent a bully like Weinstein from abusing his power.
Not all who worked with Weinstein seem as though they were aware of what was going on. Director Kevin Smith appeared devastated when he found out about the allegations against his longtime producer; he vowed to donate all future royalties he receives from work he did with Weinstein to a nonprofit group called Women in Film, an organization that helps women break into the movie industry.
“My entire career is tied up with the man,” Smith said on his podcast “Hollywood Babble On,” referencing Weinstein. “It’s been a weird, fing week. I just wanted to make some fing movies, that’s it. That’s why I came, that’s why I made ‘Clerks.’ And no fing movie is worth all this. Like, my entire career, f it, take it. It’s wrapped up in something really f***ing horrible.”
Despite all the attention surrounding Weinstein and so many celebrities coming forward, almost no abuser besides the disgraced producer has actually been named.
Even with the #MeToo campaign on social media in response to many celebrities coming out and sharing their sexual abuse stories, few names other than James Toback and Roman Polanski have surfaced as abusers. Former child star Corey Feldman vowed to come forward, but he said he will not name his abusers.
“I AM WORKING ON A PLAN THAT MAY B A WAY FORWARD 2 SHED SOME LITE ON THIS SITUATION! IF I CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY 2 GET ACTUAL JUSTICE,” Feldman tweeted. “NOBODY SHOULD LIV THEIR LIVES IN FEAR EXCEPT THOSE WHO COMMITTED THESE HEINOUS CRIMES IN THE 1ST PLACE! I HAV FAITH GOD WILL C THIS THRU!’
Feldman revealed the abuse problem in Hollywood in a memoir he released in 2013. When he made an appearance on “The View” that year, co-host Barbara Walters attacked his claims of widespread abuse in Hollywood, claiming that he was “damaging an entire industry” with his words.
Related: Filmmaker Will Donate Residuals from His Weinstein Movies
With more performers coming forward and talking about their history with sexual abuse and harassment, “Westworld” actress Evan Rachel Wood explained why many stars are not naming their abusers. In a recent YouTube video she posted, she said despite many of these celebrities’ high statuses, many of them still fear potential backlash.
“To go after the person who assaulted you takes quite a toll,” she said. “It is a terrifying thing to have to go through, mainly because you are at risk of not being believed, your career being hurt, being drained of your finances — because it costs a lot of money to file a lawsuit and go to court with somebody. Especially if all you have is your word against theirs and especially if these are very powerful people.”
It may be hard for some of these celebrities to specifically name abusers, but it may be the only way for real change to occur. There were bystanders who knew and did not speak out, and their ignoring the issue may have led to more young performers being sexually abused and harassed over the years. Spreading awareness and ridding Hollywood of the abusers is the only way it can be ensured that future Harvey Weinsteins do not take over the business and ruin more lives.
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