Harvey Weinstein's Actions Are Proof That The Filmmaking Industry Needs To Change

​By Josh Williams

​A wave of disgusting news has recently surfaced, plaguing the film industry once again. The worst part is that this rancid news is not brand new. These allegations have been looming in the background for more than twenty years and just now something is beginning to take place. On October 5th of this year, courageous and inspiring journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published an expose in the New York Times accusing Weinstein of three decades of sexual assault and harassment. Detailed in the article were several actresses and female Miramax and Weinstein Company employees who had been sexually harassed or assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. 

​In the initial article written by Kantor and Twohey, there are details of several different women and their experiences with Weinstein. These women endured countless acts of sexual harassment including things like; Weinstein asking these women to watch him shower, asking them to give him massages naked. (You can read the full article here). The article goes into great detail to discuss the vile acts that Weinstein has been committing for over three decades. Including sexual harassment and abuse of women as well as paying off settlements for these women. But as this waters continues to swirl, more news continues to surface.

As the allegations of Weinstein continue to float around the industry, more brave women continue to stand up and speak out against him, telling their stories and informing the rest of us what has been occurring for far too long. Not only have the sexual harassment and abuse claims been surfacing but now three rape charges are aimed at Weinstein as well. Stories of Weinstein forcing himself onto women and kissing them have surfaced as well as him forcing oral sex onto certain women. After all this news had reached the surface, on Sunday, October 8th, Harvey Weinstein was fired from the very company he founded with his brother, The Weinstein Company. 

But this was only the beginning. Even after Weinstein has been fired more women are coming forward with their stories involving Harvey and his sexual acts. The list of women who have spoken up include Asia Argento, Rosanna Arquette, Ashley Judd, Emily Nestor, Laura Madden, Zelda Perkins, Rose McGowan, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, Lucia Evans, Mira Sorvino, Emma de Caunes, Jessica Barth, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judith Godreche, Angelina Jolie, Katherine Kendall, Tomi-Ann Roberts, Dawn Dunning, Louisette Geiss, Lauren Sivan, Cara Delevingne, Lea Seydoux, and many more women who have chosen to remain anonymous. 

After the New York Times article detailed Harvey's acts, an article by the New Yorker was published (You can read the full article here), discussing more reports of victims. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, they did. Sharon Waxman, a former journalist for the New York Times stated that in 2004 The Times was sitting on an article detailing Harvey's misconduct (You can read the full article here) Waxman states that during the time of her investigation both Matt Damon and Russel Crowe contacted her directly to dispel the reports against Weinstein. The piece was not only shut down due to the influences from Damon and Crowe but it was also shut down because The Weinstein Company was an incredibly massive ad buyer for the New York Times. The article was edited to remove the horrifying details that Waxman had discovered. Damon has since responded to this claim and you can read his response here.

Then on October 10th, a tape was released. A tape that will more than likely make you sick to your stomach. The tape is audio of Harvey making an unconsented advance towards a woman. The woman states that she is incredibly uncomfortable and she does not want to do this. She states that Harvey touched her breast the day before and despite expressing discomfort, Weinstein remained persistent. You can listen to the audio file here. Harvey has since relocated to Europe where he claims that he is checking into Sex-rhab conveniently at a time when the FBI is currently investigating him.

Harvey Weinstein's acts are inexcusable and disgusting. He has taken advantage of his stature in Hollywood and therefore has created something vile. Something unsafe and horrifying for women in the industry. It's been going on for decades and has even been laughed about and horrifyingly enough, accepted as the social norm (Ever heard the phrase "She had to sleep with him to get the part"?) This has to stop, this must stop, this needs to stop. Recently more sexual harassment stories have surfaced from other large figures in the industry, Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News and Andy Signore of Screen Junkies. The women who have stepped up are brave. Brave in ways that many of us will never be. As this continues, hopefully, more women will step up to help in shutting this behavior down. 

Some may state that Weinstein is a product of his time. That is not an excuse. There is no viable excuse for what Weinstein did. He has committed terrible, petrifying acts. One thing that has managed to become so sickly is the silence from men in the industry. Men who have worked with Weinstein closely who clearly knew about these acts. These men, including Weinstein, have now appropriated a culture that should not be considered normal. Sexual harassment and abuse should not be a normality in this industry, but it is. Men, stand up. Join the fight. Speak out against Weinstein. Speak out against Knowles. Speak out against Signore. These acts, these horrific events are so far beyond immoral. Change must start to happen and it can only happen with you. And for all of the women reading, as hard as it may be (We are not disregarding the psychological and professional ramifications this can cause), we want you to know that we and the rest of the world who wishes to be on the right side of history, are on your side, as we attempt to make this industry a better place for all.

You can follow Josh and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at  @josh_williams09