Posted on 10/09/2017 11:45:54 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
"The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar," she said. "The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes."
Meryl Streep has spoken out against Harvey Weinstein, praising the women who have shared their stories of the Hollywood producer's alleged sexual assault as "heroes."
Since the publication of The New York Times' report — detailing decades of allegations of Weinstein's sexual harassment and abuse, some of which resulted in paid settlements — many have called his behavior an industry secret that was widely known but never reported on the record. But the actress — who once referred to Weinstein as "God" in an acceptance speech and previously collaborated with him on films like August: Osage County and The Iron Lady, the latter for which she won an Oscar — stated to HuffPost that she was unaware of the producer's “inappropriate, coercive acts,” and called them “disgraceful,” “inexcusable,” and an “abuse of power.”
“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," she said.
"One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew," she continued. "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," Streep concluded. "Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
Hours after Streep's statement, Judi Dench — who collaborated with Weinstein on Mrs Brown, Shakespeare in Love, Chocolat and Philomena — also stated her stance: "Whist there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole hearted support to those who have spoken out."
Streep and Dench join the many actresses who have slammed Weinstein, who also allegedly masturbated in front of a TV reporter and has since been terminated from The Weinstein Company. Rose McGowan, who was mentioned in the NYT report, told The Hollywood Reporter, "The men of Hollywood need to know they own no woman. The days of Entourage-like behavior and thinking is as dated as your largely bro nature. ... Stand for women. Stand for truth. Stop hurting us. Rise."
Kathy Griffin took her words on Weinstein to the stage on Sunday night, saying, "That guy seems to be what’s called a rapist. I’m using it as a broad term. There’s a lot of them and they are everywhere. So it’s time we started to fucking look out for each other because this shit has been going on for way too long.”
On social media, Amber Tamblyn tweeted her support for Ashley Judd, who participated in the NYT report. "Heed the mantra and never forget: Women. Have. Nothing. To. Gain. And. Everything. To Lose. By. Coming. forward," she said. "Stand with @AshleyJudd or give your legs to someone else. What she and others have just done is painful and difficult and triumphant."
Brie Larson echoed of Judd and the report's other women, "As always, I stand with the brave survivors of sexual assault and harassment. It's not your fault. I believe you." Added producer Megan Ellison, "Women face serious repercussions for sharing their experiences and deserve our full support. I admire the courage of these women." Julianne Moore also said, "Coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so. But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others." Seth Rogen noted, "I believe all the women coming forward about Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment. It takes bravery to do so."
Lena Dunham tweeted of the company, "Easy to think Weinstein company took swift action but this has actually been the slowest action because they always always knew." America Ferrera noted of the industry at large, "This abuse of power must be called out, however powerful the abuser, and we must publicly stand with those brave enough to come forward." James Gunn also said, "If even 1/10th of the stories about Harvey Weinstein are true (and I believe they are), then good fucking riddance. That shit’s gotta stop. And fuck you to anyone who knew about it and let him get away with it. The enabling also needs to end."
Harvey Weinstein Read More Harvey Weinstein to Sue N.Y. Times, Says His Attorney
After Weinstein shared a bizarre statement on the expose — in which he noted, "I came of age in the '60s and '70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different" — Judd Apatow tweeted, "The 70s were 37 years ago. You are blaming growing up in the 70s? You haven't picked up anything since then?" And John Oliver became the first late-night host to address the allegations on air, saying on Sunday's episode of his HBO show, "Yeah, you're right — your excuse isn't an excuse. In fact, it isn't even an excuse for that behavior in the ’60s! ‘Well back then, we had no idea that women didn’t want to be forced to look at dicks. That wasn't discovered by scientists until 1988. It was a different time."
Weinstein also noted in his statement that he has brought on therapists "to deal with this issue head on." Patricia Arquette wrote, "If there is a way to cure yourself of being a predator than I hope Harvey learns what it is & shares it with the world. It's an epidemic." Mark Ruffalo said, "To be clear what Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power and horrible. I hope we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses."
President Donald Trump also commented on the claims. "I've known Harvey Weinstein for a long time," Trump told reporters. "I'm not at all surprised."
While discussing Streep's statement on their Today show hour, Kathie Lee Gifford told Hoda Kotb that she has been friends with Weinstein for decades but also didn't know of the claims. "I never saw any of this. I'm not saying it didn't happen. I'm just saying I know a different man, just like I did with Bill Cosby. So it's very upsetting to me on a personal level. This is a man I considered a friend. I feel for his family and I feel for him. It's also upsetting for me as a woman that this kind of behavior is real, and no one ever thinks it's going to catch up with them."
In addition to being fired from The Weinstein Company, Weinstein's political donations to Senate Democrats were given away. His legal advisor Lisa Bloom has resigned from his case.
All I can say is things have come to a pretty pass when we have a "Dame Judi." I mean, reeally.
Sorry Meryl you’re not even a 4 on Harvey’s scale and besides you’re an angry B-——itch .
Right, word gets around. Clients complain to their agents and get dropped, stars hobnob and gossip. Journalists get the story pitched to them and head the other direction rather then jeopardize their career.
It all goes on until somebody bigger than the offender say’s it’s okay.
Not for a second do I believe Streep didn't know.
She'd right now better be figuring out what to say to salvage her legacy because it's only a matter of time before someone with convincing evidence comes out and says, "Streep knew. Of course she did! I told her."
horevy scumstein probably didn’t hit on her - much better pickings.
.....hmmmmm didn’t know?????? You can’t print the B and S big enough for that comment.
Maybe she thinks that only no-talent starlets had to watch Harv do the bozak.
More likely she did the whole casting couch thing herself back in the mid- to late-70s, and has forgotten.
Meryl Streep didn’t know?
Is there anyone out there who actually believes that?
The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one.
Hollywood just isn’t ready to do that I guess.
“...praising the women who have shared their stories ...”
Now???
Really.??
How long did they all sit still for that?
“The Fox condemns the trap, not himself”—Blake, Proverbs of Hell
She didn’t say she didn’t know, right? She said “not everybody knew”.
Doesn’t that convey that a lot of people knew?
She knew, and so did a lot of people. If she truly didn’t know, she say she didn’t know. She’s trying to cover her butt, but it’s hanging out in the breeze.
The fact that Weinstein’s been getting away with this crap for decades means that these “raving lunatic, women’s rights” Hollywood *stars* like mouthy Ashley Judd is actually mad at herself for her short comings, her lack of morality and courage to report sexual assaults in a timely manner or at all!
In fact, Judd and others put careers above all else. Judd’s cowardice permitted Weinstein to continue to rack-up more victims! Judd’s cowardice permitted Weinstein to continue his sexual crime spree. Ashley Judd is no hero for “women’s rights.”
I bet Bill Clinton knew.
I read Lisa Bloom came up with a strategy to slime all the accusers. Weinsteins brother instead fired her and said his brother needed help.
Bloom is just as bad as Weinstein.
Why did we, as a society, ever put entertainers on such a pedestal in the first place? Prior to the rise of Hollywood, entertainers were not held in high regard. From its inception, the movie industry has been the home of homosexuals, drug addicts, sexual predators, child and animal abusers. Yet somehow we have allowed the movie industry to con us into believing their front people (stars) are special and above us mere mortals. Phooey!
Nancy Kerrigan cry: “Whyyyyyyyyhyhyhy!” did you do that to us?
I suspect all those women movie stars knew Weinstein was a sexual predator..but.... they wanted to be famous. and.. rich...
Meryl Streep I suspect, not being a beauty.... she was also harrased by Weinstein... and perhaps she kept quiet....
she needed him ....
and.....
she is a democrat.. remember:
she loves and supports the wife of another sexual rapist Bill Clinton...
She said “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.”
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