In the opening arguments to Harvey Weinstein’s criminal trial in Los Angeles this week, the producer’s defense lawyer pointed to his moldering, overweight client and asked the rhetorical question, “Do you think these beautiful women had sex with him because he’s hot?”
Harvey would not get laid if he didn’t give up his career advancement and conniving. “Hollywood wannabes.”
As one of his victims, that was not what I experienced. My career was the last thing I thought about as I was being chased around a conference table during a business meeting or trying to escape a hotel suite. I just wanted to get to the exit. Some women weren’t as lucky and became trapped by a solid wall of putrid flesh. Others entered a There is a well-documented survival strategy for sexual assault.I froze and hoped it would be over soon. The transaction is now gone. Weinstein could have given women money to get their silence. But if he gave crumbs of favors to those who needed it, his actions are not commerce. They are a trading in sex. These actions are more like hot pennies being thrown contemptuously to the hands of the homeless.
Many of us who came forward to report Weinstein’s abuse did not profit then and do not profit now. After realizing the vast number of victims and the traumatized lives, we came forward to report Weinstein’s abuse. We knew he would not stop, and only our truth could bring him down.
Despite all that the defense claims about us “milking”Harvey was not able to contact me again after these horrible encounters with Weinstein. I ran away, feeling humiliated and lamenting my stupidity for thinking that an acquaintance was telling me the truth. He said he would gladly make introductions to help you find work in Hollywood. However, the number of people who helped with advice, introductions, and asking for only my permission, was overwhelming. “pay it forward” in repayment, demonstrates that I hadn’t been naïve after all — I had just been unlucky enough to encounter a predator.
Young people are used to seeking advice from people in their chosen field. Who hasn’t started their career as a “wannabe”? Harvey and Bob, their brother, were wannabe movie producers when they entered Saturday morning pictures as children. Even Weinstein’s lawyer (who used the term to deride Jennifer Siebel Newsom, now an accomplished documentary filmmaker) was presumably a wannabe attorney when at law school. There’s no shame in dreaming of a career. The power elite who abuse young hopefuls to feed their sexual desires are guilty and shameful. Harvey Weinstein is the only one guilty here, and his lawyer will make sure you forget.
Echo is the executive director. It provides training and support for survivors and professionals in trauma and resilience. Louise Godbold is one of the #MeToo breakers and has given interviews to international media and TV on the topic of trauma and sexual abuse. She has contributed to Slate, The Smithsonian Magazine and Pacific Standard, as well as The Imprint.