Harvey Weinstein’s Fall From Power

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/opinion/harvey-weinstein-sex-allegations.html

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To the Editor:

Re “Citing Scandal, Studio’s Board Fires Weinstein” (front page, Oct. 9):

I worked as an actress for many, many years. Sexual predation was everywhere. Harvey Weinstein is not alone in his improper behavior. Sometimes when I was sent out on an audition by my agent, I was given an advance warning to “get in and get out.”

I used to get pornographic calls on my answering machine from people for whom I’d just auditioned. It was “business as usual” for casting directors, agents and famous actors to ask for a quid pro quo — sleep with them and you had a chance at the part you were auditioning for; don’t sleep with them and you can forget it. Everyone simply considered this behavior as part of the game. Everyone knew who the worst offenders were, and even told explicit stories about them.

The stories that could be told are endless. I am so glad that finally, finally, this kind of behavior is being taken seriously.

JOANNA STELLINGWEEHAWKEN, N.J.

To the Editor:

Harvey Weinstein. Roger Ailes. Bill O’Reilly. These are merely the high-profile bosses accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace. And the accusations have been made public by women with sufficient social or economic power to withstand the backlash.

Imagine the many other women who tolerate similar circumstances in order to hang on to their job and paycheck. A year ago the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape showed Donald Trump’s sexual braggadocio and shocked many into assuming that his presidential candidacy was over.

Pundits maintain that his supporters chose to excuse or overlook his behavior, but I would argue that his claims of sexual misconduct made him look more “boss-like.” Because this is what the boss often looks like in America. Harvey Weinstein. Roger Ailes. Bill O’Reilly. Donald Trump.

ELLEN SULLIVAN, NORTH MIAMI

To the Editor:

I have written to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences urging that Harvey Weinstein be stripped of his honors and required to return his Oscars.

The “casting couch” is part of Hollywood legend and undoubtedly has some truth to it, but Mr. Weinstein’s misuse of his power goes far beyond a few isolated instances of salacious opportunism. He must be universally condemned by his industry; otherwise, the Academy and its members are condoning his behavior. It must understand that the moviegoing public will not accept that.

GARY MARQUART, AUSTIN, TEX.

To the Editor:

Re “Studio Rocked as Weinstein Faces Inquiry” (front page, Oct. 7):

Amid all the response to the news about Harvey Weinstein, one sentence caught my attention. “One-third of the company’s all-male board resigned.”

In 2017, we are still talking about a major company having an all-male board of directors? Isn’t that part of the problem?

ARDESHEER TALATI, NEW YORK