Kevin Spacey, James Toback, Dustin Hoffman's sexual harassment claims — A timeline of accusations
Hollywood is currently deluged with countless sexual harassment rows. From high-profile producers to celebrated actors, it has been a month of disappointment and obvious disgust — especially for people who followed these celebrities, looked up to them or brought them up in ordinary discussions.
Sexual harassment in showbiz is not an alien concept. It has been around, existing with help (voluntary or involuntary) from Hollywood's own. However, in the present context, it all began with a 5 October New York Times article, in which multiple women, including actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan came forward to level sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
Here's a timeline of what ensued after Weinstein was named and shamed.
The New York Times article on Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein. Image from Twitter/@TrumpTrain45Pac
The article also revealed a financial settlement that happened between McGowan and Weinstein which was not to be mistaken as "an admission” by the producer, but to “avoid litigation and buy peace.”
After a 10-month-investigation, The New Yorker publishes a report by Ronan Farrow, which includes 13 more women accusers. Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the accusers, alleges Weinstein sexually forced himself on her in 1997.
The row intensifies with A-list actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Cara Delevingne and Angelina Jolie sharing their own sexual harassment encounters with the disgraced mogul.
The consequences? Weinstein's wife announces she's leaving him. His BAFTA membership is revoked. In a twisted turn of events, McGowan alleges on Twitter that Weinstein raped her.
After more and more women, including British actress Lysette Anthony, accuse him of rape, Weinstein's The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences membership is cancelled. More recently, he stands barred from the Producers Guild of America for life. Meanwhile, new allegations against him from several women surface almost every day.
Ben Affleck denounces Weinstein; faces new allegations himself
Affleck was called out by actress Rose McGowan. In a tweet, McGowan accused Affleck of lying after issuing a statement that he was “saddened and angry” about the Weinstein revelations. McGowan suggested Affleck knew decades ago about Weinstein’s behavior.
Actress Hilarie Burton renewed an earlier allegation that Affleck groped her during a visit to MTV’s TRL, which she was hosting in 2003. Affleck on Wednesday tweeted an apology, “I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.”
Roy Price resigns
Roy Price/Image from Twitter/@NewsAlertHQ
Amazon Studios head Roy Price quits following allegations that he sexually harassed Isa Hackett, a producer in Amazon series Man in the High Castle, in 2015. Price was also facing criticism for his close business ties with Weinstein. The senior Amazon executive had also been accused of ignoring actress Rose McGowan's claims that Weinstein raped her.
James Toback faces allegations from 38 women
After Price, Oscar-nominated writer-director James Toback is accused of sexually harassing at least 38 women stemming back to at least the 1980s, in a report by Los Angeles Times. Out of the 38, as many as 31 of the women spoke about it, and detailed various incidents in which Toback allegedly made lewd suggestions, steered conversations into sexually explicit territory, and rubbed against them until he ejaculated into his pants or on their bodies.
According to a dw.com report, 200 more women have spoken up, levelling new allegations against Toback.
Kevin Spacey accused; comes out as gay
Kevin Spacey/ Image from Twitter/@PeterTatchell
In another shocking revelation, Anthony Rapp speaks to BuzzFeed News, alleging that the House of Cards star made a sexual advance on him when the former was only 14 years old. Spacey offers and apology.
However, Netflix quickly puts an end to its flagship show, announcing season six will be the final one. After Rapp, two more men — actors Roberto Cavazos and Tony Montana —accuse Spacey of sexual misconduct. Soon after these accusations, Netflix tweets that the production of House of Cards Season 6 has been suspended.
Rush Hour director Brett Ratner accused
Prominent film director Brett Ratner is accused of sexual misconduct by six women — including actress Olivia Munn — in a Los Angeles Times report on 1 November. As a result, Warner Bros. severs ties with the director, whose expired first-look deal with the studio will not be renewed anymore.
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman. Image from Twitter/@consequence
Writer Anna Graham Hunter alleges in a column for The Hollywood Reporter that the now 80-year-old actor groped her on the set of TV movie Death of a Salesman and “talked about sex to me and in front of me.” The incident left her in tears. Hoffman apologises saying “it is not reflective of who I am.”
What is common between all these men is that they all enjoy a certain position of authority and power. As multiple men and women join the accusers everyday and more offenders are brought to the book, the question arises: how many more?
Inputs from Agencies
