Author Topic: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.  (Read 1601 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline kimmy

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5033
  • Location: Kim City BC
Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« on: October 10, 2017, 10:06:13 pm »
Last week New York Times published a huge expose on Harvey Weinstein.  Weinstein has been one of the biggest executives in Hollywood since the 1990s, but probably won't be any longer, as he's been fired from his own company and there are now a parade of significant industry figures coming forward to relate their own horror stories about Weinstein.

I can't link to the NY Times report, because I already used my 10 free articles this month. :(   Nonetheless, here is a New Yorker Magazine piece on the topic that is powerful in its own right:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories

Reading through this, one is strongly reminded of similarities with other figures like Bill Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi, Bill O'Reilly, and Donald Trump. 

Like Cosby, Weinstein liked to promise to boost the careers of young women who were "nice" to him.  Like Ghomeshi and O'Reilly, Weinstein made life hell for female subordinates.  Like O'Reilly, Trump, and Cosby, cash settlements and non-disclosure agreements were used to pursuade women to not pursue legal action against him.  Like Trump, "when you're a star they let you do it" seems to rationalize everything in Weinstein's mind.

Incidents described in the New Yorker piece range all the way from the early 1990s to one incident just a couple of years ago where Weinstein assaulted a young actress, who went to the police to complain and met with him again later with a microphone provided by the police. The recording can be heard in the New Yorker piece. Weinstein at one point confesses to groping her, and apologizes when she tells him he was too agressive, and yet the whole time he is demanding she join him in his hotel room in a very menacing tone.

Imagine being one of these young actresses who gets inviting to a meeting with Weinstein and a group of executives, only to see the executives exit the meeting and leave you alone with this slime-ball. Imagine working for somebody like that.  Imagine knowing that if you did complain, Weinstein had the power to destroy your career, smear you in the media, put you up against immense legal resources.  The New Yorker mentions that women they've interviewed for this story asked their names be removed after receiving legal threats from Weinstein's lawyers. Weinstein is also planning to sue the New York Times.

The author of the New Yorker magazine article, Ronan Farrow, also says that he's been informed by Weinstein himself that he'll be facing a lawsuit.  Farrow is a freelancer who had originally begun working on this piece for NBC News, and when asked why his article wasn't published by NBC, he said “You would have to ask NBC and NBC executives about the details.”

 -k
Paris - London - New York - Kim City

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline BC_cheque

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2237
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2017, 12:16:33 am »
I contemplated creating a thread on Weinstein but I didn't think it would garner many responses.  It's sensational, but not the least bit controversial given that we'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to defend the man. 

But now that you brought it up, I'll play devil's advocate and I'll address the topic with what I think may be the only argument to be made in his defense.

Weinstein is not some anomaly, he is typical of how Hollywood treats women.  Casting couches and sexual harassment are nothing new and serious actresses often defend their acting skills by boasting about never having had to resort to demeaning themselves in order to get started.

I was reading about an insider who said assistant jobs for executives often require the candidate to have 'tough skin' which within the industry is code for the ability to put up with abuse and not be phased by it.

Harvey Weinstein has now become the poster child for this inappropriate and toxic environment, but let's not kid ourselves, he is just one of the many.

The entire industry is complicit, he is merely the the scapegoat.


Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12477
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2017, 05:39:31 am »

Reading through this, one is strongly reminded of similarities with other figures like Bill Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi, Bill O'Reilly, and Donald Trump. 

Except that most people haven't heard of Weinstein before this.

Quote
Like Cosby, Weinstein liked to promise to boost the careers of young women who were "nice" to him.  Like Ghomeshi and O'Reilly, Weinstein made life hell for female subordinates.  Like O'Reilly, Trump, and Cosby, cash settlements and non-disclosure agreements were used to pursuade women to not pursue legal action against him.  Like Trump, "when you're a star they let you do it" seems to rationalize everything in Weinstein's mind.

The difference being that - as I mentioned - most of the public hadn't heard of Weinstein, which makes it harder to 'tarnish' his 'public' reputation.  Also, he had more power to make stars than any of these people.  He wasn't a 'star' like Trump.  He made stars.
 
Quote
Imagine being one of these young actresses who gets inviting to a meeting with Weinstein and a group of executives, only to see the executives exit the meeting and leave you alone with this slime-ball. Imagine working for somebody like that.  Imagine knowing that if you did complain, Weinstein had the power to destroy your career, smear you in the media, put you up against immense legal resources. 

It has been this was since the beginning.  You can thank the network of gate keepers for that.

Quote
The author of the New Yorker magazine article, Ronan Farrow, also says that he's been informed by Weinstein himself that he'll be facing a lawsuit.  Farrow is a freelancer who had originally begun working on this piece for NBC News, and when asked why his article wasn't published by NBC, he said “You would have to ask NBC and NBC executives about the details.”

 -k

At last we have found a real conspiracy.  The NYT didn't help cover it up, though,they helped expose it.

Quote from: BC_cheque


Weinstein is not some anomaly, he is typical of how Hollywood treats women.  Casting couches and sexual harassment are nothing new and serious actresses often defend their acting skills by boasting about never having had to resort to demeaning themselves in order to get started.


Many of your favourite stars arrived this way.


Quote
Harvey Weinstein has now become the poster child for this inappropriate and toxic environment, but let's not kid ourselves, he is just one of the many.

The entire industry is complicit, he is merely the the scapegoat.

I wonder if the audience can be blamed for this too ?  Seems to me the system has been around for too long to not have been challenged.

guest18

  • Guest
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2017, 07:23:41 am »
Obviously the important story is whether Hillary has any comment. /s
You would think Trump supporters (like his son) would refrain from commenting, seeing as the only difference between Weinstein and Trump is that Weinstein is facing consequences. But nobody ever became a Trump supporter by being logical and self-aware.

But incognito mode on your browser will allow unlimited NYT articles, though I'm looking at getting a subscription because real journalism costs money.

Offline JMT

  • Administrator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3462
  • Location: Waterhen, Manitoba
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2017, 08:38:17 am »
Everyone wants Hillary to shut up - except for now, now she should talk.

Offline Hal 9000

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2017, 09:07:09 am »
Last week New York Times published a huge expose on Harvey Weinstein.  Weinstein has been one of the biggest executives in Hollywood since the 1990s, but probably won't be any longer, as he's been fired from his own company and there are now a parade of significant industry figures coming forward to relate their own horror stories about Weinstein.

I can't link to the NY Times report, because I already used my 10 free articles this month. :(   Nonetheless, here is a New Yorker Magazine piece on the topic that is powerful in its own right:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories

Reading through this, one is strongly reminded of similarities with other figures like Bill Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi, Bill O'Reilly, and Donald Trump.
 

Like Cosby, Weinstein liked to promise to boost the careers of young women who were "nice" to him.  Like Ghomeshi and O'Reilly, Weinstein made life hell for female subordinates.  Like O'Reilly, Trump, and Cosby, cash settlements and non-disclosure agreements were used to pursuade women to not pursue legal action against him.  Like Trump, "when you're a star they let you do it" seems to rationalize everything in Weinstein's mind.

Incidents described in the New Yorker piece range all the way from the early 1990s to one incident just a couple of years ago where Weinstein assaulted a young actress, who went to the police to complain and met with him again later with a microphone provided by the police. The recording can be heard in the New Yorker piece. Weinstein at one point confesses to groping her, and apologizes when she tells him he was too agressive, and yet the whole time he is demanding she join him in his hotel room in a very menacing tone.

Imagine being one of these young actresses who gets inviting to a meeting with Weinstein and a group of executives, only to see the executives exit the meeting and leave you alone with this slime-ball. Imagine working for somebody like that.  Imagine knowing that if you did complain, Weinstein had the power to destroy your career, smear you in the media, put you up against immense legal resources.  The New Yorker mentions that women they've interviewed for this story asked their names be removed after receiving legal threats from Weinstein's lawyers. Weinstein is also planning to sue the New York Times.



The only similarities are really with Cosby...and obviously Clinton (whom you forgot about).  I don't know anything about O'Reilly TBH, but it's not anything like Ghomeshi or Trump at all.  I understand how you would want to bring Trump into this, but it's disingenuous.  What this guy did was real and goes way beyond anything we've ever seen before, this isn't simply making unwanted advances or being in a consentual , however rough sexual relationship with someone, this is the real deal, and you should recognize it as such.  The fact that so many knew - yes, Streep, Clinton and Obama, makes it even more disturbing.

Offline kimmy

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5033
  • Location: Kim City BC
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2017, 09:17:49 am »
Everyone wants Hillary to shut up - except for now, now she should talk.
...
Obviously the important story is whether Hillary has any comment. /s

Weinstein has been a prominent financial supporter of the Democrats, attended events with Clinton and the Obamas... Malia Obama even interned at Weinstein Company (hopefully she wasn't treated the way Weinstein treated Emily Nestor.)  Given that he has been a sponsor and ally, I think they felt obliged to speak out against him.  First off, it's the right thing to do, and secondly you just know that "the right" was going to pounce on it if they didn't... "see? The liberals only care about this when they can use it to attack conservatives like (Trump/O'Reilly/Ailes/etc)!"

You would think Trump supporters (like his son) would refrain from commenting, seeing as the only difference between Weinstein and Trump is that Weinstein is facing consequences. But nobody ever became a Trump supporter by being logical and self-aware.

I expect that "the right" will now develop a very keen interest in this issue, much in the same way that conservatives develop a deep concern for gay rights when it presents the opportunity to criticize Islam.

But incognito mode on your browser will allow unlimited NYT articles, though I'm looking at getting a subscription because real journalism costs money.

I have been thinking the same.  I donate to Wikipedia every year because I think it's of great value. The past year, I have started thinking that maybe I should subscribe to some of the media outlets that do good work.

 -k
Paris - London - New York - Kim City

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12477
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2017, 11:26:20 am »
I expect that "the right" will now develop a very keen interest in this issue, much in the same way that conservatives develop a deep concern for gay rights when it presents the opportunity to criticize Islam.

Good for them if they do.  I think many people need to come clean as to what they knew, and this may be a rule changer when it comes to enabling abusive behaviour.  Democrats knew him better, so it's fair to ask them.

Republicans have the moral low ground on this, though.  If they want to capture the high ground, they will need to do more than just 'whatabout' the issue to death.  How about proposing legislation banning sexual harassment in the workplace ?

Quote
I have been thinking the same.  I donate to Wikipedia every year because I think it's of great value. The past year, I have started thinking that maybe I should subscribe to some of the media outlets that do good work.

 -k

I subscribe to the NYT, and I will be adding the Globe and Mail soon too.  But that's really propping up the last of a dying breed.  They help with HUGE national stories, which is necessary, but local news is getting the ****-stick right now.

FIND local twitter journalists, follow them and encourage them.  We need to build a digital local media post by post to replace local news.

Offline cybercoma

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2956
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2017, 11:28:48 am »
Jacking off into a plant is just locker room stuff.

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12477
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2017, 11:40:13 am »
 ???  Context of that last post ??? 

guest7

  • Guest
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2017, 11:41:52 am »
I wonder how many people who knew this was going on are now wishing they'd come forward a little sooner. 

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12477
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #11 on: October 11, 2017, 11:52:31 am »
I think it's great that this is happening, but there are implications to other secrets.

Are people asking to know how the sausage is being made now ?

Offline SirJohn

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5801
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2017, 12:13:02 pm »
There is very little that is startling about this except how crude he could be. Sex has been a commodity in Hollywood since the days of Mary Pickford. How could it not be? You have an industry where the power brokers are usually middle aged men, which can grant fantastic wealth and fame to actors and actresses if they succeed. Who are those actors and actresses? Very, very attractive young people.

Directors, producers and other high figures in Hollywood, including actors and actresses, gay and straight, have taken advantage of this for generations. Nor, let's be honest, has it all been a one way street. There have never been a shortage of ambitious young actors and actresses willing to seduce whoever they thought they could to get a role. That's particularly so of women simply because most of the top bosses are men. And why not? Has anyone really considered what goes into a lot of these movies? The nudity and simulated sex don't leave a lot of room for prudishness or shyness, particularly for women.

How many top actors and actresses today got important roles on the casting couch which would otherwise have gone to someone else? They're not telling
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline SirJohn

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5801
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2017, 12:13:31 pm »
I wonder how many people who knew this was going on are now wishing they'd come forward a little sooner.

My guess is very few.
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12477
Re: Harvey Weinstein, serial sex predator.
« Reply #14 on: October 11, 2017, 12:17:18 pm »
How many top actors and actresses today got important roles on the casting couch which would otherwise have gone to someone else? They're not telling

That's what I'm saying here.  Do we want to know the details ?  Do we want to know that Steve McQueen, Liz Taylor, Judy Garland are in our hearts because they had sex with a movie studio president or a director ?

It reminds me of not caring about dictators until they invade another country.