Ever since Harvey Weinstein was outed as a rapist and sexual assaulter to the public in an expose featured in the Oct. 5 issue of The New York Times, the number of people confronting their predators is staggering. The Weinstein accusations matter because he had A-list celebrities confessing their experiences with the notorious producer, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cara Delevingne and Kate Beckinsale.
Although this deep web of collusion and ignorance spread further than everyday people realized, it was a common fact in elite social circles. Even up-and-coming actresses in Hollywood were warned about this behavior. So why did these people continue to work with a genuine monster?
Hypocrisy: that is why. These people knew about Weinstein’s behavior. People brushed it off, rationalized it, made excuses, and Weinstein paid off his victims. People were making money, so why ruin a good thing? A lot of these actors and people caught in the middle of a Weinstein assault are owning up to their mistakes. They are saying they want to begin to guide their industry in the right direction for the treatment of all people, especially women.
For the first time in recent memory, people are being held accountable when it comes to sexual assault allegations.
The best example of this current hypocrisy is with the downfall of comedian Louis C.K. He was revered as a multiple Golden Globe and Emmy winner throughout the last couple decades. Between his stand-up specials and FX series “Louie,” audiences, critics and colleagues looked to the man as a genius.
In another New York Times expose from Nov. 9, five women went on the record about their experiences with the comedian. C.K. would ask these women if he could take out his penis, then would begin to masturbate in front of them. He did not touch them, but inexplicably forced them to watch him pleasure himself.
These stories have been rumors for years, even making their way into the public’s ear, but they would eventually fade away. If the public hears about it, even momentarily, they should realize it is probably a bigger topic of conversation within the actual industry. Only now, when it is a trend to take down these deviant sexual predators, is it convenient for those that praised C.K.’s work last week to condemn it and crucify him for his actions.
“Parks and Recreation” creator Mike Schur apologized for casting C.K. in the program even after he heard the rumors. More hypocrisy. He is not apologizing for casting him; he is apologizing that all the nice, normal people that like the show found out about it.
There is a scene in “Louie” where C.K. attempts to force sex onto Pamela Adlon’s character.
“This would be rape if you weren’t so stupid. You can’t even rape right,” Adlon’s character says.
Last week, Adlon said she was devastated after his admission of abhorrent behavior.
Adlon is another that knew all along. She is a longtime collaborator of C.K.’s and has been a close friend for many years. She has been involved in many of his projects and is gaining more household popularity because of C.K. Saying she is devastated is only a result of her not wanting to seem like a bad person because she did not do enough to stop him.
People want to remove his work from Netflix and other streaming services. They accuse his specials and series of being an on-screen confessional for his sexual urges. Now that everyday people have some insight into his head it is the perfect time to look at what he has done.
Art changes throughout time and with new information comes new context. Do not lock art away. Look at it from a different perspective. Instead of attacking the artwork, find the next artist that is leaving behind victims.
Photo by David Shankbone via flickr
