How Sexual Harassment is Affecting Hollywood

After the truth behind Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse scandals was uncovered on Oct. 5, 2017, sexual assault victims have been promted to come forward against abusers in Hollywood, politics, sports, and more. Since Weinstein’s career was permanently tarnished, at least nine men in Hollywood have lost jobs or face sexual harassment claims. This recent “trend” of exposing celebrities has become known as the “Weinstein Effect”.

1) Kevin Spacey

More accusers are saying actor Kevin Spacey sexually harassed or assaulted them: https://t.co/u3QppaV34X pic.twitter.com/9Bo0HG4Eaw

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 1, 2017

Actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making a sexual advance on him, causing multiple victims to speak out following the initial accusation. As a result, Spacey’s successful Netflix Show “House of Cards” has been cancelled, and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said it would no longer honor Spacey with the 2017 Emmy Founders Award.

Morgan Salzsieder (‘18) was a fan of “House of Cards”.

Salzsieder says, “I loved the show and many of his movies, but now I know I can’t support him. This trend is upsetting because I’ve had to alienate many of my favorite actors and music artists because of their abrasive actions upon non-consenting people.”

2) Michael Oreskes

NPR chief and former AP managing editor Michael Oreskes placed on leave after sexual harassment allegations. https://t.co/cGIvj5cVK4

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 1, 2017

NPR Senior Vice President of news, Michael Oreskes, was accused in October by two women who claim that he “abruptly kissed them on the lips and stuck his tongue in their mouths while discussing their job prospects”, according the The Washington Post. On Nov. 1, 2017, Oreskes resigned from the company.

3) Mark Halperin

JUST IN: NBC terminates Mark Halperin's contract after sexual harassment allegations https://t.co/PTq0q7mNLr pic.twitter.com/IAkreC3XYJ

— The Hill (@thehill) October 30, 2017

Political analyst Mark Halperin faces similar accusations coming from five different women. As a result, NBC News terminated its contract with Halperin, and he also lost a book deal with HBO.

Caroline Lamoureax (‘20) says, “The fact that this has happened to so many women in Hollywood is very upsetting. It shows that so many women in Hollywood can only get ahead in ways like this, which is very discouraging to young girls.”

4) John Besh

John Besh, the New Orleans restaurateur, is stepping down from his company amid a sexual harassment scandal https://t.co/tZ5pse0Jm1

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 23, 2017

Celebrity chef John Besh faces the same accusations of unwanted groping and name calling, except from more than 25 different women. Not only was Besh targeted, but most of the men that worked in his booming restaurant in New Orleans. This caused Besh to step down from Besh Restaurant Group on Oct. 23, 2017.

Other cases within the last month include public speaker and blogger Robert Scoble, film director James Toback, Amazon Studios chief Roy Price, fashion photographer Terry Richardson, and others.