By: Sahra Mohamed
With the ongoing lawsuits involving Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, the recent allegations against Jay-Z that have now been dismissed, and the upcoming Diddy trial in May, it begs the following questions: How much does the public’s role and involvement impact these cases? If someone is an abusive predator, why does it take years for them to be held accountable, especially when their behavior is known within Hollywood and the entertainment industry? Often, it feels like the public is acting as the court, deciding when it’s acceptable to protect someone who is a known predator and when to cancel someone indefinitely, even if they were acquitted. When will the entertainment industry hold itself accountable?
Let’s revisit Harvey Weinstein’s case. In 2004, a report surfaced claiming that Matt Damon tried to stop a story about allegations against Weinstein, although he denied the claim. American author and journalist Sharon Waxman was investigating rumors that one of Weinstein’s employees was “procuring women” for him. Waxman claimed that Matt Damon and Russell Crowe both vouched for this employee, which played a role in her inability to get the story published. However, when Damon later spoke to NBC’s Today on October 24, 2017, he admitted that he knew Weinstein had sexually harassed Gwyneth Paltrow, as Ben Affleck had told him. Damon added that by then, Weinstein had been “incredibly respectful of her.” Despite this knowledge, both Damon and Affleck continued to support Weinstein, attending events like the Film Independent NYC “Live Read” at NYU Skirball Center in October 2016. A year later, Weinstein faced sexual abuse charges.
Angelina Jolie also spoke about her experiences with Weinstein in a September 2021 interview with The Guardian. She described her encounter with him as “beyond a pass” and something she had to escape. She shared that she had warned others about him, including her first husband, Jonny Lee Miller, advising him to spread the word to other men to avoid letting women be alone with him. Jolie also revealed she turned down a role in The Aviator because Weinstein was involved, refusing to associate with him again. She said it was difficult when Brad Pitt, her ex-husband, continued to work with him.
Over 80 women have come forward accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, harassment, and rape, according to various news outlets, including ABC News. Despite numerous accusations, Weinstein was able to conceal his heinous actions for years before they came to light. It raises questions about how he managed to evade public scrutiny for so long. Similarly, Bill Cosby was accused by over 60 women of rape, sexual assault, and harassment. The fact that such behavior went unchecked is difficult to comprehend. If Hollywood does not always provide a safe space for actors and artists who are up and coming, it is even more concerning that some who have already ‘made it’ have remained silent, contributing to a culture where these issues persist. The list of accused individuals continues, from P. Diddy to Ezra Miller. The entertainment industry must step up and show the courage to stop these predators at the first signs, rather than waiting until dozens of victims have come forward.
On the flip side, executives are quick to cancel someone, even after they’ve been proven innocent. Take the case of Nate Parker, director and writer of The Birth of a Nation. The film, which had received critical acclaim and was in the running for the Oscars, suffered a major setback when stories about Parker’s 1999 rape case resurfaced. Even though he was acquitted at 19, his promotional interviews for the film centered on his defense, with Nate assuring the press that he was falsely accused and vindicated by the court. Despite his acquittal, Fox Searchlight canceled the planned awards campaign for the film, which essentially killed its chances of success. Does the industry pick and choose who to protect and who to cancel?
As the trial for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is set to take place in March 2026, which involves sexual harassment and smear campaigns, it will be interesting to see whether the public, the court, or Hollywood executives will have the final say in the fate of their careers.
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