The rash of sexual misconduct by some well-known male actors have shed some light on a certain undercurrent of Hollywood. After a while, as with any sort of high profile news, it all gets numbing and harder to stomach.
The better question to ask: should we really be that surprised?
An industry built on image and beauty that somehow lacks the undercut of exploitation of power and privilege? That sounds more Hollywood than anything else.
Perhaps it’s more of a microcosm of contemporary culture than we would dare to acknowledge.
Now, I’m not condoning any of the allegations and proven behaviors of the accused here. No one wants to work in unsafe conditions when work should be about one’s own professional merit, not using physical gifts or misusing professional clout for personal gains. But in that regard, Hollywood isn’t that much different than other forms of industry…it just may have been such practices were stomached because of a Machiavellian approach to the trappings of success. It’s a small, very lucrative business at the highest of levels, where one’s reputation is worth millions.
There’s always a search for the next young star, often female. With a seemingly never-ending supply of young beauties trying to make their mark, predators in various forms lay in wait. I’ll never forget an interview Resse Witherspoon gave a few years ago when she talked about the freedom she now has to be more selective in the projects she chooses. No doubt she has seen her fair share of questionable proposals and knows who to work with in order to keep things focused purely the professional side.
This isn’t even getting into challenges faced by folks of color in the industry either.
I for one welcome the voice accusers are gaining as they speak about their experiences. It shows others in different fields shouldn’t have to suffer in silence if they share those stories too. It also shows the importance of creating an air of accountability in the pursuit of a safer, fair working environment. It really should be an individual choice, not a presumed expectation, of whether someone wants to mix business with pleasure for professional advancement.
We need a more inclusive club of Hollywood – as the good old boys shtick has seemingly run its course.
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