Warning: This post contains descriptions of sexual violence.
In Hollywood, there seems to be a marker between life before and after the #MeToo movement. On Oct. 5, 2017, The New York Times published an in-depth exposé on the allegations of sexual harassment by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. That led to many actresses bravely coming forward and sharing their stories of rape and assault, not only by Weinstein, but also by other high-profile stars in the entertainment industry.
By the time the dust had settled, 87 actresses had come forward with Weinstein allegations. Angelina Jolie described her scary incident with the studio executive when she was 23 years old to USA Today,
“I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did,” she shared.
While Weinstein is in jail right now, some cases will never see a criminal court due to the statute of limitations. Other situations are still playing out decades later, including the Prince Andrew civil case due to his alleged involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking ring.
If there is one thing that holds true in every survivors’ story, it’s this: they deserve to be heard and supported. Hollywood has taken steps to better protect performers on and off-set, but power and money still silence victims in many situations — and the legal system has yet to catch up with convicting predators. Learn more about the famous faces who have been accused of sexual assault and see where the cases stand today.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, harassment or violence, you can get help. To speak with someone who is trained to help with these situations, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.
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