After Harvey Weinstein's scandal broke, women who had been sexually harassed & assaulted began sharing their stories & naming names. At first, it was easy for me to dismiss Weinstein since I had no idea what he'd done or what movies he produced. I've heard the name Weinstein before, but I can't say I knew anything in relation to his work.
But then I found out Weinstein was involved in producing many famous movies like "Pulp Fiction" & "Good Will Hunting" which made it hard for me to comprehend his actions. I would've thought a powerful man like that would easily find consensual lovers. However, now I know these men's actions are about power & having control over vulnerable people.
Consequently, in a development which I think will benefit society at large, Weinstein's scandal opened the door for many victims to feel comfortable enough to make public allegations against many of these powerful men. In addition, the allegations of sexual harassment against Kevin Spacey prove men are victims too.
& unlike Weinstein, of course I've known & admired Spacey's work for a long time. I've also watched every season of "House of cards" so I was disappointed when I heard the news:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/netflix-severed-ties-with-kevin-spacey-so-whats-next-for-house-of-cards/2017/11/05/8e19131e-c244-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html
'“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of ‘House of Cards’ that includes Kevin Spacey,” the streaming service said in a statement Saturday.'
But I definitely understand Netflix's decision since Spacey's name will be toxic for a long time. Not to mention his actions are reprehensible & disgusting.
Another actor I've admired is comedian Louis CK: & today there were allegations made against him in the NYTimes:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html
"Now, after years of unsubstantiated rumors about Louis C.K. masturbating in front of associates, women are coming forward to describe what they experienced. Even amid the current burst of sexual misconduct accusations against powerful men, the stories about Louis C.K. stand out because he has so few equals in comedy. In the years since the incidents the women describe, he has sold out Madison Square Garden eight times, created an Emmy-winning TV series, and accumulated the clout of a tastemaker and auteur, with the help of a manager who represents some of the biggest names in comedy. "
It's clear Harvey Weinstein's scandal is having far-reaching consequences & it's affecting powerful & popular men regardless of ideology. It's also affecting politicians like Alabama GOP senate candidate Roy Moore:
"Woman says Roy Moore initiated sexual encounter when she was 14, he was 32"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/woman-says-roy-moore-initiated-sexual-encounter-when-she-was-14-he-was-32/2017/11/09/1f495878-c293-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html
Being a single man myself (close to Roy Moore's age when this incident first took place), I find his behavior very disturbing. I usually date women in their thirties or late twenties, thinking women in their early twenties may be too young. Yet we'll soon have a U.S. senator who found it perfectly acceptable to look for teenage girls to date when he was in his thirties.
Nevertheless, despite all the women who now feel comfortable enough to make allegations against powerful men, & despite all the cable news' pundits' outrage, at least in Roy Moore's case, he will probably soon become a U.S. senator anyway.
Just remember, Trump was caught on tape saying he liked grabbing women by the pussy without their consent & he's now the president of the United States.
Regrettably, by now we should know republican politicians play by different rules than the rest of us.
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