Weinstein effect

{{Short description|Trend of sexual misconduct allegations beginning in 2017}}

File:Harvey Weinstein 2010 Time 100 Shankbone.jpg, the producer convicted of sexual misconduct]]

The Weinstein effect is a scandal in which famous or powerful figures – previously thought to be immune from most consequences due to their fame – are later accused of sexual abuse, harassment, or misconduct.{{cite report |title=The Harvey Weinstein effect |publisher=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/life/the-harvey-weinstein-effect |access-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207222753/https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/life/the-harvey-weinstein-effect/ |url-status=live }} The term Weinstein effect came into use in October 2017, when media outlets began reporting on alleged sexual abuse perpetrated by film producer Harvey Weinstein.

The effect is closely related to the #MeToo movement and contributed to the movement’s growth. The two events are categorized by a cascade of abuse and assault allegations against many notable figures such as Diddy, R. Kelly, Kevin Spacey, Charlie Rose, Louis C.K., Dustin Hoffman, Matt Lauer, U.S. Representative John Conyers, United States Senator Al Franken, former Senate candidate Roy Moore, Les Moonves, Garrison Keillor, Welsh MP Carl Sargeant, Asia Argento, and U.S. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

History

=Background=

In July 2016, Fox News television host Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit against the station's chairman Roger Ailes, which led to his removal and encouraged journalists to pursue rumors about Weinstein's conduct and political commentator Bill O'Reilly. Similar revelations and a lawsuit led to O'Reilly being fired in April 2017. Both Ailes (who died in May 2017) and O'Reilly denied any wrongdoing.

On October 5, 2017, The New York Times broke the first reports of decades of sexual misconduct claims against film producer Harvey Weinstein. On October 10, 2017, journalist Ronan Farrow reported further allegations that Weinstein had sexually assaulted or harassed thirteen, and raped three women.

He was immediately dismissed from The Weinstein Company, expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations. Weinstein had suppressed these cases through confidential financial settlements and nondisclosure agreements, as was common for celebrity sexual harassment cases, before journalists aired the story. Over eighty accusers came forward against him, including many well-known actresses.

=Impact=

Jim Rutenberg of The New York Times said the Weinstein scandal precipitated a "national reckoning" against sexual harassment and assault in the United States, which became known as the Weinstein effect. USA Today wrote that 2017 was the year in which "sexual misconduct became a fireable offense".

Women and men aired claims of sexual misconduct in workplaces across multiple industries, leading to the swift international condemnation or removal of many men in positions of power. On Twitter, the #MeToo campaign also encouraged hundreds of thousands of people to share their stories.

Examples of the Weinstein effect are numerous. Many notable people entertainment and music have been implicated, including:

Television producers Mark Schwahn, Dan Schneider, Brian Peck, and Peter Aalbæk Jensen;{{cite news |title=Mark Schwahn Officially Fired From 'The Royals' Due To Sexual Harassment Claims |work=ENStarz |url=https://www.enstarz.com/articles/200424/20171222/mark-schwan-officially-fired-from-royals-due-to-sexual-harassment-claims.htm}}{{cite web |title=Former Zentropa employees expose system of degradation and sexual harassment |publisher=politiken.dk |url=https://politiken.dk/kultur/art6202316/Former-Zentropa-employees-expose-system-of-degradation-and-sexual-harassment |access-date=2017-11-14}}{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |title=Danish Authorities To Investigate Claims Against Zentropa Founder |date=November 13, 2017 |publisher=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/danish-authorities-allegations-peter-aalbaek-jensen-zentropa-1202206832/ |access-date=2017-11-14}}
Animators John Lasseter, John Kricfalusi, Chris Savino, and Justin Roiland;
Actors such as Russell Brand, Kevin Spacey, Jeffrey Tambor, James Franco, Cuba Gooding Jr., Louis C.K., Danny Masterson (convicted of rape), Chris Noth, Ron Jeremy, T.J. Miller, and voice actor Vic Mignogna;
R&B singer R. Kelly (convicted of sex trafficking);
Rapper/singer Chris Brown;
Writer Neil Gaiman;
Countertenor David Daniels;
Conductor/pianist James Levine;{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera |work=The New York Times}}
Company founders Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis, and Andy Signore; and
Filmmakers such as Bryan Singer, Brett Ratner, Max Landis, James Toback, and Rob Cohen.

American rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been called "the Harvey Weinstein of the music industry".{{cite news |title=Is Diddy hip-hop's Weinstein? Plus, Brittany gets rejected |work=NPR |date=September 20, 2024 |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/1200551219/its-been-a-minute-diddy-arrested-rejection}}{{cite news |title='Does the case of Sean Combs, aka Diddy, herald a #MeToo in music?' |work=Le Monde |date=October 4, 2024 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2024/10/04/does-the-case-of-sean-combs-aka-p-diddy-herald-a-metoo-in-music_6728209_30.html}}

File:Sean P. Diddy 2013.jpg has been accused of sexual assault by multiple people and was arrested by federal agents in September 2024.]]

In the journalism industry, allegations led to the firing of editors, publishers, executives, and hosts, including high-profile television figures such as Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin, and Matt Lauer. In politics, accusations of varying degrees of severity were made against U.S. House Representative John Conyers (D-MI) and U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), both of whom resigned their seats in Congress, and Roy Moore (R-AL), who lost his 2017 bid for election to the United States Senate. Celebrity chefs Mario Batali and John Besh were also removed.

In technology, the Weinstein effect went underway when Intel CEO Brian Krzanich was investigated after being accused of violating the company's anti-fraternization policy over a consensual relationship he engaged in with an employee. Regardless, although this incident was ultimately not counted as sexually violent, and with the #MeToo movement still in effect, Krzanich was ousted as Intel's CEO on June 21, 2018.{{cite web |title=Intel CEO out after consensual relationship with employee |date=2018-06-21 |language=en |website=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/intel-ceo-out-after-consensual-relationship-employee-n885311 |access-date=2024-02-13}}{{cite web |title=Intel CEO out after consensual relationship with employee |date=2018-06-22 |language=en |website=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/11c7ed780ce24e09ab354972b1232773 |access-date=2024-02-13}}{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |title=Intel CEO Brian Krzanich resigns over relationship with employee |date=2018-06-21 |language=en |website=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/21/17488070/intel-ceo-brian-krzanich-resigns-employee-relationship |access-date=2024-02-13}}

Two supporters of the #MeToo movement were also accused. CBS chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves was one of Hollywood's most prominent supporters of the movement and a founding member of the "Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace", formed in late 2017 to "tackle the broad culture of abuse and power disparity". On July 27, 2018, six women, including actress Illeana Douglas, accused him of sexually harassing them. On August 19, 2018, an article published in The New York Times detailed allegations that Asia Argento sexually assaulted Jimmy Bennett, a then-17-year-old actor and musician, in a California hotel in 2013, and arranged to pay $380,000 to her accuser. Bennett was under California's age of consent, which is 18 years of age, and says he was given alcohol under the age of 21. Argento was a leading Weinstein accuser and prominent #MeToo movement leader.

The Weinstein effect was felt outside the United States, especially but not solely in the English-speaking world. In the United Kingdom, allegations of sexual misconduct against many British politicians became a public scandal involving dozens of women accusers across decades and political parties. It led to the resignations of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, Cabinet Secretary Damian Green, and Welsh minister Carl Sargeant (who died by suicide four days after his dismissal). In January 2018, reports of sexual harassment at the high-society Presidents Club charity dinner caused another scandal. In Canada, accusations against Just for Laughs comedy festival founder Gilbert Rozon led to his resignation, and 15 people accused Quebec radio host Éric Salvail of sexual misconduct. Broadcaster and former baseball player Gregg Zaun was fired.

Analysis

American journalists in conversation at NPR spoke of the allegations feeling like a tipping point for societal treatment of sexual misconduct. They distinguished the moment from prior sexual misconduct public debates by the public trust in the accusers, who in this case were celebrities familiar to the public, rather than the accusers in prior cases, in which the accusers were unknown and became famous for their testimony. Social media provides a platform for women to share their experiences and encouragement on a scale that had not existed during prior public debates. The state of California is considering legislation to ban closed door sexual harassment settlements.

Two columnists of the USA Today expressed doubt that the trend of public opinion would hold, citing open, public cases with few consequences, such as R. Kelly (the column was made before Surviving R. Kelly aired and Kelly's subsequent arrest in early 2019) and Donald Trump. The Weinstein effect also caused some to question the place of Bill Clinton within the Democratic Party due to the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Journalist Jenny Nordberg published a New York Times article in protest against the prosecution and conviction of actress Cissi Wallin, one of the many accusers of journalist Fredrik Virtanen, and her criticism of the difficulties the Me Too movement faces in Sweden.

References

{{reflist|25em|refs=

{{cite news

|agency=ANI

|title=Italian actress Asia Argento, who accused Weinsten of misconduct, slammed for payout to sexual assault accuser

|date=2018-08-20

|magazine=The Economic Times

|publisher=The Times of India

|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/italian-actress-asia-argento-who-accused-weinsten-of-misconduct-slammed-for-payout-to-sexual-assault-accuser/articleshow/65473301.cms

|access-date=2018-11-07 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204344/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/italian-actress-asia-argento-who-accused-weinsten-of-misconduct-slammed-for-payout-to-sexual-assault-accuser/articleshow/65473301.cms |archive-date=September 10, 2018

}}

{{cite news

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}}

{{cite news

|last1=Buckley

|first1=Cara

|title=Anita Hill to lead Hollywood commission on sexual harassment

|date=December 15, 2017

|newspaper=The New York Times

|issn=0362-4331

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/movies/anita-hill-hollywood-commission-sexual-harassment.html

|access-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522153858/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/movies/anita-hill-hollywood-commission-sexual-harassment.html |archive-date=May 22, 2019

}}

{{cite news

|last1=Cook |first1=Jesselyn

|last2=Simons |first2=Ned

|title=The Weinstein effect: How a Hollywood scandal sparked a global movement against sexual misconduct

|date=8 November 2017

|website=The Huffington Post

|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weinstein-effect-global_us_5a01d0e0e4b066c2c03a563b

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112204748/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weinstein-effect-global_us_5a01d0e0e4b066c2c03a563b |archive-date=November 12, 2017

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{{cite news

|last1=Deerwester |first1=Jayme

|last2=Mandell |first2=Andrea

|title=Leslie Moonves accused of sexually harassing six women in New Yorker piece

|newspaper=USA Today

|date=July 28, 2018

|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/07/27/cbs-chief-les-moonves-ronan-farrow-sexual-misconduct-allegations/849596002/

|access-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914064355/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/07/27/cbs-chief-les-moonves-ronan-farrow-sexual-misconduct-allegations/849596002/ |archive-date=September 14, 2018

|quote=A public proponent of the #MeToo movement, Moonves

}}

{{cite news

|last=Farrow |first=Ronan |author-link=Ronan Farrow

|title=From aggressive overtures to sexual assault: Harvey Weinstein's accusers tell their stories

|magazine=The New Yorker

|date=October 10, 2017

|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories

|access-date=October 10, 2017 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010151730/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories |archive-date=October 10, 2017

}}

{{cite news

|last=Farrow |first=Ronan |author-link=Ronan Farrow

|series=A reporter at large

|title=Les Moonves and CBS face allegations of sexual misconduct

|date=July 27, 2018

|magazine=The New Yorker

|language=en-US

|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/06/les-moonves-and-cbs-face-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct

|access-date=2018-11-07 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525004659/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/06/les-moonves-and-cbs-face-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct |archive-date=May 25, 2019

}}

{{cite web

|last=Flanagan |first=Caitlin

|title=Bill Clinton: A reckoning

|date=November 2017

|website=TheAtlantic.com

|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/11/reckoning-with-bill-clintons-sex-crimes/545729

|access-date=November 19, 2017 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118231945/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/11/reckoning-with-bill-clintons-sex-crimes/545729/ |archive-date=November 18, 2017

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{{cite news

|last1=France |first1=Lisa Respers

|last2=Cullinane |first2=Susannah

|date=2018-08-22 |orig-date=2018-08-20

|title=New York Times: Asia Argento, #MeToo leader, paid sexual assault accuser

|website=CNN

|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/20/entertainment/asia-argento-alleged-assault-settlement/index.html

|access-date=2018-11-07 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820204056/https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/20/entertainment/asia-argento-alleged-assault-settlement/index.html |archive-date=August 20, 2018

}}

{{cite web

|last1=Guynn |first1=Jessica

|last2=Della Cava |first2=Marco

|title=Harvey Weinstein effect: Men are getting outed and some are getting fired as women speak up. And it's spreading

|newspaper=USA Today

|date=October 25, 2017

|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/25/harvey-weinstein-effect-men-losing-their-jobs-and-reputations-over-sexual-misconduct-charges-bu/796007001

|access-date=November 11, 2017 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107042347/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/25/harvey-weinstein-effect-men-losing-their-jobs-and-reputations-over-sexual-misconduct-charges-bu/796007001/ |archive-date=November 7, 2017

}}

{{cite news

|last=King |first=Noel

|title=Why 'The Weinstein effect' seems like a tipping point

|date=November 4, 2017

|website=NPR.org

|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137110/why-the-weinstein-effect-seems-like-a-tipping-point

|access-date=November 11, 2017 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112023207/https://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137110/why-the-weinstein-effect-seems-like-a-tipping-point |archive-date=November 12, 2017

}}

{{cite news

|last=Lutz |first=Eric

|title=CBS exec Les Moonves accused of sexual misconduct in latest Ronan Farrow bombshell

|date=July 28, 2018

|work=Mic

|url=https://mic.com/articles/190488/cbs-exec-les-moonves-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-in-latest-ronan-farrow-bombshell#.W5NeXvR5A

|access-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730112743/https://mic.com/articles/190488/cbs-exec-les-moonves-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-in-latest-ronan-farrow-bombshell#.W5NeXvR5A |archive-date=July 30, 2018

|quote=Moonves has also been a vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement

}}

{{cite news

|last=North |first=Anna

|title=The Asia Argento allegations reveal our damaging misconceptions about sexual assault survivors

|date=2018-08-21

|website=Vox

|url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/8/21/17760222/asia-argento-jimmy-bennett-sexual-assault-me-too

|access-date=2018-11-07 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204523/https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/8/21/17760222/asia-argento-jimmy-bennett-sexual-assault-me-too |archive-date=September 10, 2018

}}

{{cite news

|last=Rutenberg |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Rutenberg

|title=A long-delayed reckoning of the cost of silence on abuse

|date=22 October 2017

|newspaper=The New York Times

|issn=0362-4331

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/22/business/media/a-long-delayed-reckoning-of-the-cost-of-silence-on-abuse.html

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124010821/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/22/business/media/a-long-delayed-reckoning-of-the-cost-of-silence-on-abuse.html |archive-date=November 24, 2017

}}

{{cite news

|last=Severson |first=Kim

|title=Asia Argento, who accused Weinstein, made deal with her own accuser

|date=August 19, 2018

|work=The New York Times

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/us/asia-argento-assault-jimmy-bennett.html

|access-date=August 20, 2018 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820020126/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/us/asia-argento-assault-jimmy-bennett.html |archive-date=August 20, 2018

}}

{{cite news

|last=Doherty |first=Brennan |title=Former Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun fired from Sportsnet over 'inappropriate behaviour'

|date=2017-11-30

|newspaper=The Toronto Star

|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/11/30/gregg-zaun-fired-from-sportsnet-for-inappropriate-behaviour-and-comments.html

|access-date=December 7, 2017 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207013225/https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/11/30/gregg-zaun-fired-from-sportsnet-for-inappropriate-behaviour-and-comments.html |archive-date=December 7, 2017

|quote=Sportsnet has fired Blue Jays broadcaster Gregg Zaun for "inappropriate behaviour." Rogers Media said "multiple female employees" complained about him. (The Canadian Press)

}}

{{cite news

|last1=Tumulty |first1=Karen

|last2=Mettler |first2=Katie

|title=Abuse allegations have revived scrutiny of Bill Clinton — and divided Democrats

|date=November 17, 2017

|newspaper=The Washington Post

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abuse-allegations-have-revived-scrutiny-of-bill-clinton--and-divided-democrats/2017/11/17/3d1711c8-cba4-11e7-b244-2d22ac912500_story.html

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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119050428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abuse-allegations-have-revived-scrutiny-of-bill-clinton--and-divided-democrats/2017/11/17/3d1711c8-cba4-11e7-b244-2d22ac912500_story.html |archive-date=November 19, 2017

}}

{{cite news

|last=Wattles |first=Jackie

|title=Hollywood execs name Anita Hill to lead anti-harassment effort

|date=December 16, 2017

|work=CNNMoney

|publisher=Cable News Network

|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/16/media/anita-hill-hollywood-commission-for-eliminating-sexual-harassment/index.html

|access-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live

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|quote=Among the list of the commission's members are: ... — Les Moonves, chairman/CEO of CBS Corp

}}

{{cite news

|last=Williams |first=Janice

|title=Harvey Weinstein accusers: Over 80 women now claim producer sexually assaulted or harassed them

|date=October 30, 2017

|magazine=Newsweek

|url=http://www.newsweek.com/harvey-weinstein-accusers-sexual-assault-harassment-696485

|access-date=November 2, 2017 |url-status=live

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}}

{{cite news

|last=Willis |first=Kim

|title=Report: #MeToo leader, Weinstein accuser Asia Argento paid off her sexual assault accuser

|date=2018-08-19

|newspaper=USA Today

|language=en

|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/08/19/asia-argento-paid-off-sexual-assault-accuser-nyt-report-says/1039417002/

|access-date=2018-11-07 |url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820180514/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/08/19/asia-argento-paid-off-sexual-assault-accuser-nyt-report-says/1039417002/ |archive-date=August 20, 2018

}}

{{cite web

|last=Wolf |first=Z. Byron

|title=Are Democrats about to turn on Bill Clinton?

|date=2017-11-17

|series=Kirsten Gillibrand

|website=CNN.com

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{{cite web

|last=Worthen |first=Meredith

|title=100 Powerful Men Accused of Sexual Misconduct in 2017

|date=December 20, 2017

|website=Biography.com

|url=https://www.biography.com/news/men-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein-2017

|access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead

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}}

Weinstein effect

History

=Background=

=Impact=

Analysis

See also

References

Further reading