Abuse Survivors Reflect One Year After Harvey Weinstein’s Prison Sentence
By Movieguide® Staff
Just over a year ago, former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in jail for his sexual exploitation of female clients. Although there was justice in one sense, many survivors who suffered from Weinstein’s abuse of power note the lasting pain caused by the movie producer.
Dominique Huett recalled meeting Weinstein in her early 20s as an aspiring actress.
“In hindsight, I feel like I was probably blacklisted for not cooperating from the very start,” Huett said in an interview discussing Weinstein’s sentencing on the charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape.
Huett’s lawsuit against The Weinstein Co. was the first civil suit regarding Weinstein’s sexual conduct. It would shine a light on repeated offenses until eventual justice in court on February 24, 2020.
But his sentence only provided some respite for those he abused. Huett said that the current court system does not yet know how to deal with sexual abuse survivors.
“I want to be released from this deal. That is what I’m hoping,” Huett told Variety. “It is only fair that I can chose to pursue my case or not — I feel like that’s every victim’s right.”
Variety reported:
The bankruptcy plan was approved by a judge earlier this year, after 83% of Weinstein accusers voted to accept it. The $17.1 million will be divided along those accusers, whose allegations will be assessed by a claims examiner, in proportion to the severity of their claims. In other words, victims will need to explain why their assault and harassment was worse than that of other victims, in order for the funds to be allocated. And with the monetary compensation, each woman will be asked to sign a waiver absolving Weinstein of any further responsibility, or else she will forfeit 75% of the payout.
“If affirmed on appeal, this will go down in history as the worst settlement of all time,” Huett’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, added. “I can think of no other settlement in which a survivor of sexual assault is compelled as a matter of law to settle her claims rather than confront those that she believes are responsible for what happened. And, I can think of no other settlement in which the alleged wrongdoers will receive millions of dollars in reimbursement of legal fees as part of the settlement agreement. The insurance companies and the billionaire directors of The Weinstein Company must be laughing and high-fiving each other for pulling this off.”
Huett hopes that other corporations will learn to stand against abuse of power in the future.
“I want there to be accountability and I want there to be a message sent to corporations that we shouldn’t be treated like a commodity.” Huett said. “Other companies would learn to stop this kind of behavior because they’re going to have to face consequences, financially and criminally. I feel my strongest stance is to fight this deal to make change happen for women.”
Reportedly, over 100 women were victims of Weinstein’s actions, but only six appeared in his New York trial.
Actress Caitlin Dulany was one of the six who testified.
“I signed up as a lead plaintiff in that civil suit always with the idea that we were seeking justice for all of Harvey Weinstein’s victims,” Dulany said. “This is still such a big wound. How could this have happened to so many women over so many years? What is wrong with our system that this happened?”
Dulany reflected on the event one year later: “In terms of black and white, yes, justice has been served. Harvey Weinstein is serving 23 years in prison for crimes that he committed against women, which he still denies, and a jury understood what happened to them and believed them. There is a lot of justice in that.”
“Harvey Weinstein going to jail is an important thing to have happened,” Dulany added. “But the damage that he left in his wake is part of this story, too – and it goes on.”
According to RAINN, 433,648 people are raped or suffer sexual assault each year in the United States, with very few leading to arrest.
Sexual abuse is a real-world issue, but one that is perpetuated in media and entertainment.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Researchers at Purdue University analyzed 48 hours of prime-time television in 1997 and found that 84% of the shows studied “contained at least one incident of sexual harassment”. Incidents that were focused on in the study were verbal sexual comments, physical sexual advances, undue attention, and even sexual bribery.
The study continues that these acts of sexual harassment “are presented in humorous ways, and victims are generally unharmed”
The study concludes by stating that “such programs potentially contribute to a climate that trivializes violence against women; that sees sexual harassment as legitimate, normal, and acceptable styles of interactions; and, that further silences its victims”.
Could it be that the reason people like Harvey Weinstein believe they can get away with gross sexual harassment and that women feel the need to be silent is partially because of the movies and TV shows of the last few decades that have made sexual harassment normal?
Movieguide® also reported on how Harvey Weinstein’s heinous actions are the result of a culture that promotes an immoral view of women through pornography, movies, and television.
Movieguide® previously reported:
The sexual revolution proudly proclaimed freedom from puritanical “stupidity,” but with freedom from morality you get immorality. The #MeToo movement is like putting a stop sign at the end of a drag strip. You invite racers to come tearing down the speedway of sexual freedom and then shout stop when the racers lust is flaming 300 miles per hour.
Let’s call for women to be seen as human beings and not just objects of lust.
This is the consequences of a lack of moral content in mainstream media and one of the many reasons Movieguide® champions media discernment from a biblical worldview. Training up younger generations to view God’s creation as God intended not only protects children, but teaches them that Christ has the power to redeem.
For practical resources on how to guard future generations from a sexually pervasive culture see below:
Read: How Popular Movies, TV Shows Have Exposed Your Child to Pornography
Read: How Much Sex Is in the Mass Media Product?
Read: What Parents Must Know About Media Literacy vs. Media Wisdom
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
