Posted on 10/09/2017 7:44:07 AM PDT by EdnaMode
Academy Award winner Meryl Streep called the alleged sexual harassment by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein “disgraceful,” “inexcusable,” and an “abuse of power.” She called the women who have spoken out against him “heroes.”
In a statement sent to HuffPost exclusively by Streep’s longtime publicist Leslee Dart, Streep says she did not know that Weinstein― with whom she has collaborated for years on films like “August: Osage County” and “The Iron Lady” and once jokingly referred to as a “God”― was engaging in “inappropriate, coercive acts” and that he had paid financial settlements to at least eight women after they accused him of harassment and assault.
Streep’s statement comes four days after an explosive report in the New York Times detailed decades of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. On Sunday, the board of directors of the Weinstein Company terminated him citing “new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days.”
Here’s Streep’s full statement:
“The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes.
One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally. I didn’t know about these other offenses: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. And If everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it.
The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
Weinstein was initially suspended by his eponymous company following the revelations, which included claims from former staffers as well as actresses like Ashley Judd. And on Friday, TV reporter Lauren Sivan told HuffPost exclusively that Weinstein had cornered her at a restaurant closed to the public and masturbated in front of her.
Members of the entertainment community have come under fire for being slow in responding to the Weinstein crisis. Over the weekend, “Saturday Night Live” Executive Producer Lorne Michaels came under fire for cutting jokes from the show that involved Weinstein. The New York Times reported that several jokes were tested during dress rehearsal but that they “fell flat” with the studio audience.
Michaels said he cut the jokes because Weinstein is a “New York thing,” meaning that he didn’t feel a national audience would appreciate the jokes.
Most of the late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, omitted the story in their Thursday night broadcasts. On “The Daily Show,” host Trevor Noah on Thursday made only a passing reference to Weinstein.
Weinstein was a prominent donor to Democratic candidates and liberal causes and was a frequent guest at the White Houses of former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Some Democrats who received donations from him have pledged to donate the money to other causes.
While some Hollywood stars have called out Weinstein, including younger actors like Lena Dunham and Amber Tamblyn, longtime collaborators like Gwyneth Paltrow and Quentin Tarantino have remained silent.
Horses***.
MS - the Dems’ useful idiot. 2 problems here: apparently NY Magazine had this story a year ago (who else, one wonders - and when??) so the entertainment press did know about and did not disseminate, Madame. also, MS’ credibility is sub-zero with her spontaneous jumping jack response to Roman Polanski recognition at Oscars. she appears to have no problem with sexual predators. ick.
Poor Meryl!
She was taking SOOOOO much grief on social media that she was FORCED to offer up this paltry excuse, er, statement. (Said in my best drama voice)
Why is it still "alleged" when Weinstein admitted it and, according to this and other articles, "he had paid financial settlements to at least eight women after they accused him of harassment and assault?"
-PJ
Yes, Harvey Weinstein groped her and Ashley Judd heroically spoke out - 20 years later!
When she was already a has-been and had nothing else to lose, she sought another minute or two in the spotlight.
“they all knew about ole Harv and did nothing.”
Wasn’t Meryl Streep a big defender of BJ Clinton and his enabler and apologizer Hildabeast?
I was watching Beverly Hillbillies and saw Sharon Tate, Roman’s future baby mama, as the secretary is several episodes. They put a dark wig on her so she would not look so beautiful. Probably didn’t want her clashing with Blonde Elly Mae. They then cast her in Petticoat Junction but she decided to turn it down.
If Charles Manson would have just waited a few decades he would have got his wish with Black Lives Matter without having Sharon Tate killed
The truth most likely is that Streep had many a times played his games.
She comes out now claiming ignorance, otherwise people would start asking just how did she get all those roles...
Meryl is such a hypocrite turning on her “God” like that.
“The same watchdog media that let him get away with it for decades.”
The big unanswered question is why the Slimes would expose one of their former heroes now. After all, they’ve known about it for a while.
That may actually be the bigger story.
Can we now get her take on Bill Clinton?
Exactly. This is damage control.
After all the years he was perving and just now, when it’s the IN thing to do, she’s speaking out. Hey, she made headlines! Anything for publicity.
El Rushbo had Streep’s number back in 1989 with the Alar scare.
Herewith the wisdom of La Swordnose:
“I think the reason we have all been invited here, as I look around the room and I see so many experts, is we have been invited for what we do not know, which probably will fill the room. But actually, I do not mind representing the constituency of the great mass of uninformed, because I think what we do not know about this issue is the most alarming, and that is coming up over and over in what I have been hearing. What we don’t know is a frightening chasm.”
Heavens, what a towering intellect come to preach truth to power!
;^)
“How brave of her ......AFTER he’s been exposed”
Meryl Strep. Was this hag the alar girl?
Exactly!!
Streep certainly knew what Roman Polanski did.
I just couldn’t stomach either one of those two
back in the White House again.
Can’t wait for the Movie version of Hogan’s Heroes.
Meryl can play “I know nothing” Sergeant Schultz.
Weinsteinberg minds me of ‘Jack Warner’ the pedophile in The Godfather. He was sore at ‘Johnny Fontaine’ over something, some little girl as I recall..
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