Harvey Weinstein

[choffer]

14 hours ago, villakram said:

I'm more interested in......

.......any actual court case(s) that come out of this. I am so fed up with trial by media.

[sne]

In light of the Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo hashtag there is a similar scandal unfolding in Sweden. Albeit with internationally less famous people involved.

One of Aftonbladet's (the biggest tabloid in Sweden) main columnists and a very vocal feminist is being outed as a serial rapist and sexual abuser of women. The youngest one only 14 at the time.

A female journalist has come out once again with her story, and this time naming the perpetrator, and as a result (so far, there will be many, many more) 4 other women has come out as well. They guy has long had a shady rumor of being tony Montana-ish fond of cocaine and apparently his behavior against women is a poorly kept secret among everyone who's worked with him and in media overall.

All this is now being exploited on social media

Not surprisingly mainstream media is struggling how to handling one of their own being ousted without losing credibility. Especially since they all knew and did nothing. So far he's not been named in mainstream media even thou they have no problem naming Weinstein, that Russian gymnast, lars von Trier or a number of politicians from the opposing block.  It's all crumbling around then as this guy is not the only one who has a bad rep at this particular paper. 

So far they are Bagdag Bobing  it hoping it will go away, or more likely are afraid of the dirt he might drop if they take their hand from him.

It is very very interesting to follow the panic they have when not being able to control the information flow thanks to "independent" sources and social media.

Edit: as and extra spice this particular paper has very close ties to the current Swedish government.

 

And as if that wasn't enough. The probably most famous TV-host in Sweden who's been a household name and hosted a home improvement show for more than 20 years is also coming under fire from tons of previous co-workers for being rasist, homophobic and a misogynist who have repeatedly used his fame and influence to behave like a pig. There are also albeit vague rape accusations against him.

This guy's behavior is also a poorly kept secret that "everyone" knows about, but no one has acted against in fear of losing their job. 

 

Sweden is a small country where everyone in the media knows each other and knows exactly everything about each other. It's also a place where mainstream media is struggling a bit with credibility so how they handle this will be very interesting. Especially since some of them are friends with these guys but have also built themselves up to be feminists and on the side of moral and right.

Edited October 18, 2017 by sne

[Seat68]

I see this escalating, Popbitch hinted at journalists that make demands to run favourable stories, not to mention the open secret about the man making the Queen film. 

[TheAuthority]

14 hours ago, Seat68 said:

I see this escalating, Popbitch hinted at journalists that make demands to run favourable stories, not to mention the open secret about the man making the Queen film. 

I agree. I am friends with a guy who had tried to make it as an actor in Hollywood. He ended up waiting tables and serving drinks at certain parties for Hollywood elites. They were essentially parties for Hollywood pedophiles. There were two A list celebs he had seen with young men (basically boys) a the parties - absolute household names known to everyone. If he as an unknown actor knew about it must be an open secret all over the industry.

[Xela]

It is surprising he had time to produce any films going by the volume of allegations! 

[chrisp65]

1 hour ago, Xela said:

It is surprising he had time to produce any films going by the volume of allegations! 

Somebody must have been giving him a hand.

[snowychap]

3 minutes ago, chrisp65 said:

Somebody must have been giving him a hand.

Thank you, James Corden.

[chrisp65]

Just now, snowychap said:

Thank you, James Corden.

that was genuinely all my own work - though I admit I may have been the 5,382,114th person to think of it

[snowychap]

58 minutes ago, chrisp65 said:

that was genuinely all my own work - though I admit I may have been the 5,382,114th person to think of it

I didn't think you'd nicked it.

It was more an 'in the style of' that awards presentation thing he did the other day.

[NoelVilla]

On 2017-10-18 at 18:19, sne said:

Sweden is a small country where everyone in the media knows each other and knows exactly everything about each other. It's also a place where mainstream media is struggling a bit with credibility so how they handle this will be very interesting. Especially since some of them are friends with these guys but have also built themselves up to be feminists and on the side of moral and right.

Fredrik Virtanen still not named by any big papers as far as I can see. It will be hard to argue now that Swedish media isn't left. If anybody still thinks it isn't.

[Jarpie]

On 10/18/2017 at 20:19, sne said:

In light of the Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo hashtag there is a similar scandal unfolding in Sweden. Albeit with internationally less famous people involved.

One of Aftonbladet's (the biggest tabloid in Sweden) main columnists and a very vocal feminist is being outed as a serial rapist and sexual abuser of women. The youngest one only 14 at the time.

A female journalist has come out once again with her story, and this time naming the perpetrator, and as a result (so far, there will be many, many more) 4 other women has come out as well. They guy has long had a shady rumor of being tony Montana-ish fond of cocaine and apparently his behavior against women is a poorly kept secret among everyone who's worked with him and in media overall.

All this is now being exploited on social media

Not surprisingly mainstream media is struggling how to handling one of their own being ousted without losing credibility. Especially since they all knew and did nothing. So far he's not been named in mainstream media even thou they have no problem naming Weinstein, that Russian gymnast, lars von Trier or a number of politicians from the opposing block.  It's all crumbling around then as this guy is not the only one who has a bad rep at this particular paper. 

So far they are Bagdag Bobing  it hoping it will go away, or more likely are afraid of the dirt he might drop if they take their hand from him.

It is very very interesting to follow the panic they have when not being able to control the information flow thanks to "independent" sources and social media.

Edit: as and extra spice this particular paper has very close ties to the current Swedish government.

 

And as if that wasn't enough. The probably most famous TV-host in Sweden who's been a household name and hosted a home improvement show for more than 20 years is also coming under fire from tons of previous co-workers for being rasist, homophobic and a misogynist who have repeatedly used his fame and influence to behave like a pig. There are also albeit vague rape accusations against him.

This guy's behavior is also a poorly kept secret that "everyone" knows about, but no one has acted against in fear of losing their job. 

 

Sweden is a small country where everyone in the media knows each other and knows exactly everything about each other. It's also a place where mainstream media is struggling a bit with credibility so how they handle this will be very interesting. Especially since some of them are friends with these guys but have also built themselves up to be feminists and on the side of moral and right.

In my experience those who most claim to be or poses being very virtuous etc have tendency to be the opposite. Some game journalist who had been very ardent "male feminist" who basically behaved like stereotypical white knight is being prosecuted for posing as porn producer to have sex with women as "auditions" for porn he was supposedly producing.

These are not isolated cases, and there have been many many more utterly disgusting people who's been very "progressive" and "inclusive" and later being found out as pedos, for example.

[HanoiVillan]

7 hours ago, Jarpie said:

These are not isolated cases, and there have been many many more utterly disgusting people who's been very "progressive" and "inclusive" and later being found out as pedos, for example.

Almost as if someone's politics has absolutely no correlation to their likelihood of paedophilia. 

[Jarpie]

10 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Almost as if someone's politics has absolutely no correlation to their likelihood of paedophilia. 

My point was that despicable people will use what's the "moral" thing to be to hide their own shitty or horrible behaviour/habits/etc. Now it's...how to put it...fashionable I guess (my english vocabulary isn't always wide enough) to be, for example "male feminist" or "male ally" so they'll use it, and mark my words, there are going to be more hypocrites outed. During the 80s, 90s and early 2000s it was to be "christian", there was some american politician/politicians who got caught for visiting gay prostitute, who had been "ardent christian" and against gay-rights.

I don't doubt that Weinstein is guilty of being a scumbag, but this and some other cases sets up dangerous precedent IMO. When just allegations are enough to ruin someone's life and get them fired, it will cause a lot of problems, you hate someone and want them fired? Just say that they had sexually harassed you and they're gone. I'd rather wait for actual criminal investigation or court case before I'd want people to get tarred and feathered in public.

[a m ole]

On 16/10/2017 at 19:33, villakram said:

 you can bet there were a few who would sell their sole for a shot at glory

If Weinstein was offering to give them a leg-up in their career, some probably did toe the line against their own morality. There’s more of these stories afoot.

Edited October 23, 2017 by a m ole

[bickster]

3 hours ago, a m ole said:

If Weinstein was offering to give them a leg-up in their career, some probably did toe the line against their own morality. There’s more of these stories afoot.

Now there’s a conundrum, is that sexual assault? It’s morally reprehensible, in the same way prostitution is to many but is it an actual crime?

There's a very fine fine line between, “he used his power over me to have sex with me” (sexual assault / rape) and “he was a very powerful man in the industry and I had sex with him to help my career” (a sort of prostitution). I’m also not sure how you go about proving that beyond reasonable doubt in many cases, especially given the historical aspect to much of it.

[Jon]

On 16/10/2017 at 19:33, villakram said:

 because you can bet there were a few who would sell their sole for a shot at glory

There's definitely something fishy going on here ....

[Jon]

40 minutes ago, bickster said:

Now there’s a conundrum, is that sexual assault? It’s morally reprehensible, in the same way prostitution is to many but is it an actual crime?

There's a very fine fine line between, “he used his power over me to have sex with me” (sexual assault / rape) and “he was a very powerful man in the industry and I had sex with him to help my career” (a sort of prostitution). I’m also not sure how you go about proving that beyond reasonable doubt in many cases, especially given the historical aspect to much of it.

I think mr Mole was taking the pee bicks. 

[Ikantcpell]

[villakram]

1 hour ago, Jon said:

There's definitely something fishy going on here ....

...only took a week 

[BOF]

This is a good read.

Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg just wrote a thought provoking post on his Facebook account about his early days at Miramax Films,. There, he wrote the memorable movies Beautiful Girls and Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, and was part of that period when Harvey Weinstein became the center of the indie universe.

Quote

So, uh, yeah.
We need to talk about Harvey.

I was there, for a big part of it.
From, what, 1994 to the early 2000s?
Something like that.
Certainly The Golden Age.
The “PULP FICTION”, “SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE”, “CLERKS”, “SWINGERS”, “SCREAM”, “GOOD WILL HUNTING”, “ENGLISH PATIENT”, “LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL” years…

Harvey and Bob made my first two movies.
Then they signed me to an overall deal.
Then they bought that horror script of mine about the Ten Plagues.
For a lot of money.
Also bought that werewolf-biker script.
That no one else liked but was my personal favorite.
They were going to publish my novel.
They anointed me.
Made it so other studios thought I was the real deal.
They gave me my career.

 

 

I was barely 30.
I was sure I had struck gold.
They loved me, these two brothers, who had reinvented cinema.
And who were fun and tough and didn’t give an East Coast **** about all the slick pricks out in L.A.

And those glory days in Tribeca?
The old cramped offices?
That wonderful gang of executives and assistants?
All the filmmakers who were doing repeat business?
The brothers wanted to create a “family of film”.
And they did just that…
We looked forward to having meetings there.
Meetings that would turn into plans that would turn into raucous nights out on the town.
Simply put: OG Miramax was a blast.

So, yeah, I was there.
And let me tell you one thing.
Let’s be perfectly clear about one thing:

Everybody-****-knew.

Not that he was raping.
No, that we never heard.
But we were aware of a certain pattern of overly-aggressive behavior that was rather dreadful.
We knew about the man’s hunger; his fervor; his appetite.
There was nothing secret about this voracious rapacity; like a gluttonous ogre out of the Brothers Grimm.
All couched in vague promises of potential movie roles.
(and, it should be noted: there were many who actually succumbed to his bulky charms. Willingly. Which surely must have only impelled him to cast his fetid net even wider).

But like I said: everybody-****-knew.

And to me, if Harvey’s behavior is the most reprehensible thing one can imagine, a not-so-distant second is the current flood of sanctimonious denial and condemnation that now crashes upon these shores of rectitude in gloppy tides of bullshit righteousness.

Because everybody-****-knew.

And do you know how I am sure this is true?
Because I was there.
And I saw you.
And I talked about it with you.
You, the big producers; you, the big directors; you, the big agents; you, the big financiers.
And you, the big rival studio chiefs; you, the big actors; you, the big actresses; you, the big models.
You, the big journalists; you, the big screenwriters; you, the big rock stars; you, the big restaurateurs; you, the big politicians.

I saw you.
All of you.
God help me, I was there with you.

Again, maybe we didn’t know the degree.
The magnitude of the awfulness.
Not the rapes.
Not the shoving against the wall.
Not the potted-plant ****.
But we knew something.
We knew something was bubbling under.
Something odious.
Something rotten.

But…
And this is as pathetic as it is true:
What would you have had us do?
Who were we to tell?
The authorities?
What authorities?
The press?
Harvey owned the press.
The Internet?
There was no Internet or reasonable facsimile thereof.
Should we have called the police?
And said what?
Should we have reached out to some fantasy Attorney General Of Movieland?
That didn’t exist.

Not to mention, most of the victims chose not to speak out.
Aside from sharing the grimy details with a close girlfriend or confidante.
And if they discussed it with their representatives?
Agents and managers, who themselves feared The Wrath Of The Big Man?
The agents and managers would tell them to keep it to themselves.
Because who knew the repercussions?
That old saw “You’ll Never Work In This Town Again” came crawling back to putrid life like a re-animated cadaver in a late-night zombie flick.
But, yes, everyone knew someone who had been on the receiving end of lewd advances by him.
Or knew someone who knew someone.

A few actress friends of mine told me stories: of a ghastly hotel meeting; of a repugnant bathrobe-shucking; of a loathsome massage request.
And although they were rattled, they sort of laughed at his arrogance; how he had the temerity to think that simply the sight of his naked, doughy, carbuncled flesh was going to get them in the mood.
So I just believed it to be a grotesque display of power; a dude misreading the room and making a lame-if-vile pass.

It was much easier to believe that.
It was much easier for ALL of us to believe that.

Because…

And here’s where the slither meets the slime:
Harvey was showing us the best of times.
He was making our movies.
Throwing the biggest parties.
Taking us to The Golden Globes!
Introducing us to the most amazing people (Meetings with Vice President Gore! Clubbing with Quentin and Uma! Drinks with Salman Rushdie and Ralph Fiennes! Dinners with Mick Jagger and Warren-freaking-Beatty!).

The most epic Oscar weekends.
That seemed to last for weeks!
Sundance! Cannes! Toronto!
Telluride! Berlin! Venice!
Private jets! Stretch limousines! Springsteen shows!
Hell, Harvey once took me to St. Barth’s for Christmas.
For 12 days!
I was a broke-ass kid from Boston who had never even HEARD of St. Barth’s before he booked my travel.
He once got me tickets to the seven hottest Broadway shows in one week. So I could take a new girlfriend on a dazzling tour of theater.
He got me seats on the 40-yard-line to the Super Bowl, when the Patriots were playing the Packers in New Orleans.
Even got me a hotel room, which was impossible to get that weekend.
He gave and gave and gave and gave.
He had a monarch’s volcanic generosity when it came to those within his circle.
And a Mafia don’s fervent need for abject loyalty from his capos and soldiers.

But never mind us!
What about what he was doing for the culture?
Making stunningly splendid films at a time when everyone else was cranking-out simpering “INDEPENDENCE DAY” rip-offs.

It was glorious.
All of it.

So what if he was coming on a little strong to some young models who had moved mountains to get into one of his parties?
So what if he was exposing himself, in five-star hotel rooms, like a cartoon flasher out of “MAD MAGAZINE” (just swap robe for raincoat!)
Who were we to call foul?
Golden Geese don’t come along too often in one’s life.

Which goes back to my original point:
Everybody-****-knew.
But everybody was just having too good a time.
And doing remarkable work; making remarkable movies.

As the old joke goes:
We needed the eggs.

Okay, maybe we didn’t NEED them.
But we really, really, really, really LIKED them eggs.
So we were willing to overlook what the Golden Goose was up to, in the murky shadows behind the barn…

And for that, I am eternally sorry.
To all of the women that had to suffer this…
I am eternally sorry.
I’ve worked with Mira and Rosanna and Lysette.
I’ve known Rose and Ashley and Claire for years…
Their courage only hangs a lantern on my shame.
And I am eternally sorry to all those who suffered in silence all this time.
And have chosen to remain silent today.

I mostly lost touch with the brothers by the early 2000s.
For no specific reason.
Just that there were other jobs, other studios.
But a few months ago, Harvey called me, out of the blue.
To talk about the bygone days.
To talk about how great it would be to get some of the gang back together.
Make a movie.
He must have known then the noose was tightening.
There was a wistfulness to him that I had never heard before.
A melancholy.
It most assuredly had a walking-to-the-gallows feel.
When we hung up I wondered: “what was that all about?”
In a few short weeks I would know.
It was the condemned man simply wanting to comb some of the ruins of his old stomping grounds.
One last time.

So, yeah, I am sorry.
Sorry and ashamed.
Because, in the end, I was complicit.
I didn’t say shit.
I didn’t do shit.
Harvey was nothing but wonderful to me.
So I reaped the rewards and I kept my mouth shut.
And for that, once again, I am sorry.

But you should be sorry, too.
With all these victims speaking up…
To tell their tales.
Shouldn’t those who witnessed it from the sidelines do the same?
Instead of retreating to the cowardly, canopied confines of faux-outrage?
Doesn’t being a bystander bring with it the responsibility of telling the truth, however personally disgraceful it may be?

You know who are.
You know that you knew.
And do you know how I know that you knew?

Because I was there with you.

And because everybody-****-knew.