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Why sexual harassment is rampant in Hollywood
The entertainment industry has been marred by a long and unpleasant history of sexual harassment.
In recent times, the allegations against Harvey Weinstein have shed light on the fact that the industry is still grappling with this issue.
Here, we take a look at some of the notable cases of the past and present.
The first significant sex scandal in Hollywood dates back to 1921, when Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was accused of raping actress Virginia Rappe, who later died from a ruptured bladder.
Arbuckle was charged with murder, which was later reduced to manslaughter. He was acquitted after three trials.
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Actor Errol Flynn’s two-year affair with Beverly Aadland began when she was just 15 years old.
Flynn had previously been accused and acquitted of statutory rape of two underage girls in 1942.
In an interview with People, Aadland stated, “I was scared. He was just too strong for me. I cried. At one point he tore my dress.”
“Then he carried me off to another room, and I was still carrying on. What was going through my head was, what was I going to tell my mother?”
Joan Collins revealed in an interview that she lost the lead role in “Cleopatra” due to refusing to sleep with the studio head.
She stated, “I had tested for ‘Cleopatra’ twice and was the front-runner.
“He took me into his office and said, ‘You really want this part?’ And I said, ‘Yes. I really do.’ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘then all you have to do is be nice to me.’
“It was a wonderful euphemism in the Sixties for you know what. But I couldn’t do that. In fact, I was rather wimpish, burst into tears, and rushed out of his office.”
The role was eventually given to Elizabeth Taylor.
In her memoir “Child Star,” actress Shirley Temple claimed that she was exposed to inappropriate behavior by an MGM producer during their first meeting when she was just 12 years old.
She stated that she was laughed at for her innocence, and he threw her out of his office. However, she had already signed her contract with MGM.
Marilyn Monroe, in her memoir “My Story,” didn’t hold back on her thoughts about the lecherous studio chiefs and filmmakers in Hollywood.
She wrote, “I met them all. Phoniness and failure were all over them. Some were vicious and crooked.
“But they were as near to the movies as you could get. So you sat with them, listening to their lies and schemes.
“And you saw Hollywood with their eyes — an overcrowded brothel, a merry-go-round with beds for horses.”
Judy Garland, between the ages of 16 and 20, was allegedly harassed and propositioned for sex by studio bigwigs at MGM, including Louis B. Mayer, the head of the studio.
Author Gerald Clarke wrote in “Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland,” “Mayer would tell her what a wonderful singer she was, and he would say ‘you sing from the heart’ and then he would place his hand on her left breast.”
Roman Polanski, the filmmaker, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with Samantha Geimer, a 13-year-old aspiring actress, during a photoshoot in 1977.
Polanski gave her champagne and Quaaludes. Geimer wrote in her memoir, “The Girl,” “I didn’t want to have sex. But apparently that is what was going to happen.”
Polanski fled the United States before his final sentencing and is still wanted by judicial authorities.
ACTORS SPEAK OUT
Over the years, many actors have come forward with stories of sexual harassment and assault in the industry.
In 2017, Ashley Judd, one of Harvey Weinstein’s first accusers, spoke out about the abuse she faced.
“Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly,” Judd said.
The same year, Rose McGowan spoke about being raped by Weinstein.
“Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly,” McGowan said.
In 2018, actor Alyssa Milano started the #MeToo movement on social media, which encouraged others to come forward and share their stories of sexual harassment and assault.
The movement quickly gained traction and sparked a global conversation about the issue.
RENEWED FOCUS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT
The sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein have reignited discussions about the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry.
The allegations and subsequent conviction have encouraged more women to come forward with their own stories.
Hollywood has been accused of having a culture that enables abuse and harassment.
Many of the women who have come forward have described a pattern of behavior that allows perpetrators to get away with abuse and harassment for years.
IMPACT ON INDUSTRY
The ongoing discussion about sexual harassment in Hollywood has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Studios and production companies have implemented new policies and procedures to address the issue.
In addition, the #MeToo movement has inspired a push for greater diversity and representation in the entertainment industry.
This has led to the creation of new initiatives and organizations aimed at supporting underrepresented groups in the industry.
LONG WAY TO GO
Despite the progress that has been made, there is still a long way to go to address the issue of sexual harassment in Hollywood.
Many of the women who have come forward have reported facing significant backlash and retaliation for speaking out.
Moreover, there is still a significant power imbalance in the industry, with many women feeling unable to speak out about the abuse they have faced for fear of damaging their careers.
This just goes to show that Hollywood has a long and ugly history of sexual harassment.
While progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done to create a safer and more equitable industry for everyone.
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