'There must be no tolerance of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world'
It was announced over the weekend that Oscar-winning Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been fired from the company he co-founded, after sexual harassment allegations against the 65-year-old emerged.
The multiple reports of sexual harassment were uncovered in a New York Times investigation and are said to date back 30 years, with Weinstein allegedly paying off his accusers for decades.
Numerous women have reported sexual harassment, with the producer allegedly promising to advance their careers in return for sexual favours.
While some Hollywood names have remained silent on the subject, something that Lena Dunham has been quick to call out, calling on men to denounce Harvey Weinstein, a host of Hollywood heavy weights have been showing love, support and praise for those coming forward.
‘As always I stand with the brave survivors of sexual assault and harassment. It’s not your fault. I believe you,’ posted Academy award winner Brie Larson, while Lena Dunham tweeted, 'the women who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe. It’s not fun or easy. It’s brave.’
‘The fact that these women are starting to speak out about the gross misconduct of one of our most important and well regarded film producers, is incredibly brave and has been deeply shocking to hear,’ explained Kate Winslet in a statement to Variety.
‘The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is NOT the way women should ever EVER deem to be acceptable or commonplace in ANY workplace.’
She continued: ‘I have no doubt that for these women this time has been, and continues to be extremely traumatic. I fully embrace and salute their profound courage, and I unequivocally support this level of very necessary exposure of someone who has behaved in reprehensible and disgusting ways. His behaviour is without question disgraceful and appalling and very, very wrong.’
Kate concluded: ‘I had hoped that these kind of stories were just made up rumours, maybe we have all been naïve. And it makes me so angry. There must be “no tolerance” of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world.’
The latest A-lister to weigh in on the controversy is Meryl Streep, who released a statement to the HuffPost.
‘The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported,' she explained. 'The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes.’
Meryl continued: ‘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 offences: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about this 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.’
She concluded: ‘The behaviour 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.’
