Last week, actress Rose McGowan posted a series of tweets using the hashtag #WhyWomenDontReport revealing that she’d been raped by a studio head. She called it an “open secret” in Hollywood and wrote that her ex had “sold our movie to my rapist for distribution.” Rose also tweeted that she consulted a criminal attorney, a woman, who told her that she wouldn’t win her case against the studio head because she’d done a sex scene in a movie. It was sad, it was sobering and it brought home how prevalent rape culture must be in Hollywood, and in our society. We’re talking about it now because of Trump, because so many people think that bragging about assaulting women is somehow men’s right or is normal. It’s not, it’s never ok, as we need to talk about it.
Rose issued a follow up last night in which she didn’t name her rapist but said that people in her industry know who she’s talking about and should be ashamed, essentially, if they continue to work with him. Here’s what she wrote.
Dear Hollywood, pic.twitter.com/MYFSAi8P2t
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 17, 2016
What she went through is horrible and it’s understandable that she describes it in such visceral terms. Rose’s point is absolutely valid, people continue to adulate this predator. We know who she’s talking about, given all the clues she included it’s simple enough to go to IMDb and figure out which studio head her ex, Robert Rodriguez, sold a movie to as that man has been accused of similar behavior. I wonder why she’s stopping short of naming him though. Maybe she wants more women to come out and back her up, which is sadly what it took to finally take serial rapist Bill Cosby to court, and to take Donald Trump at his word.
Photos credit: WENN.com and Getty
I agree. I feel like if you’re working with someone who in known to be a sexual abuser , then you’re saying it’s ok. I couldn’t work with someone who has a really bad history. There are some things that are more important .
I agree. I feel disgusted that this is so entrenched in Hollywood. Look at the actors and actresses who throw up their hands to work with Roman Polanski or Woody Allen. Disgusting. I bet none of them would allow RP or WA to be alone with their young children. But hey, if they can give me an Oscar, it’s totally worth it. 😡
I agree Nola, it’s sickening and sad.
I’m starting to wonder more and more if that doesn’t eliminate 75% of HW… just… ugh. She’s amazing though. Go Rose. She looks like Furiosa. What a bad azz.
I don’t agree that working with someone (in and of itself) is enough to make a person partially responsible for that other person’s actions or that working with someone is saying that whatever they’ve done is ok, but refusal to work with an abuser, extreme bigot, etc. does seem like it would be a good way to be supportive to whoever they (or others like them) have victimized and send a powerful message. And refusal to defend/excuse/minimize someone’s actions even though you’re working with them can do that too (like the way Gabrielle Union handled it). It’s also about what kind of work you’re doing with that person too: working with Donald Trump (as an example) in a way to spread his politics and defend his actions wouldn’t be the same as appearing in some type of unrelated holiday musical (not that he would ever be in a musical) or talkshow episode/ movie that he has some type of role in. Defending the person and dismissing or minimizing the victim’s experience does give a person some culpability though.
So who is it Bob Weinstein?
Harvey is the one known to be a sexual predator and he was a producer on Grindhouse too.
Nope, Bob. Dimension distributed Grindhouse. Harvey’s style is more ‘coerced consent’
I think it’s Harvey. This is supposed to be an open secret, right?
David Poland tweeted that it is Harvey, that “Rose’s name came up often with Miramaxers in the day” and that “People in Miramax/TWC know.”
It’s pretty gross how much power those two guys have. Yuck. I hope some people listen to her but sadly, looking at the cases of Woody Allen, etc. I would say the chances of that happening are slim. Being famous looks terrible, honestly.
@Bridget
I think it’s Bob too for the same reasons. Different MOs, same monsters.
While it’s true that Bob doesn’t have the greatest reputation, the media chatter by those who cover H’wood identifies Harvey as the culprit.
If it were Bob, I think the word would have gotten out.
Also, someone whose MO is “coerced consent” sounds exactly like a rapist.
I feel bad for her but I also feel bad for anyone that is now being called her rapist who actually isn’t her rapist because everyone is playing a guessing game ( I know I am guilty of participating in the guessing game) since she won’t name names.
I just feel like if you are going to make requests/ announcements like this that you have to just go all the way and give up the name because there are other innocent people that maybe labeled something they aren’t which is really a terrible fate since this is such a horrible thing to be labeled.
She gave clues so that didn’t happen but didn’t name his name so to protect herself from a lawsuit. She didn’t say “any studio head”, she gave them the name in the clues which the article mentioned. The only two people who have been accused, based on her tweet was the guy & his brother- both have sexual predatory reputations in Hollywood that are pretty well believed.
I’d agree with you if she left it open but not in this case. She provided the info.
She can’t name names or she’ll be sued. Unless there is enough proof such as witness which is never the case in these scenarios. These men know what they’re doing and how to get away with it.
Powerful!
Very.
I feel for her. And I understand that her rapist has power and money and privilege. Her language is really unfortunate here though. She isn’t naming her attacker. An attorney said it would be hard to win so she didn’t even bother to fight back. So by her own language, she is “cowardly” and “culpable” for future sexual attacks by this man. I don’t think it’s ok to call others out for not taking a stand when she hasn’t done so either.
Very true. She may think that the people she is calling out to stop him are in a position with more power than her so they can do something about it, but that may not be the case and maybe they are just as or close to as powerless as she is to do anything about him.
I was wondering if she would open herself up for a potential law suit if she named the person?
Whoa your horses down & get a couple under control……Maybe she didn’t pick her words perfectly but come on. She says that this man is an open secret in Hollywood & everyone knows what he does but continues to work with him & act like it isn’t there. It’s really difficult for rape victims to see their friends having beers & working with the guy who raped them. She is asking that people stop praising him & working with him. That is not the same as deciding that you would get ruined if you brought up charges against him and deciding not to- she isn’t working with this man and isn’t putting him on a pedestal pretending it didn’t happen.
As MLK said, “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
That quote by MLK is so powerful and true. And it really applies to this situation. Being the victim of abuse, its the hardest/scariest thing you will ever do in your life is name your abuser. I hope others come forward and support her claim.
WindowChair5- I agree and that quote keeps coming up in my head these days…..
I dated an abusive guy once who traveled in my same circle of friends. We broke up after a horrible episode & I found out, then, that he had also been abusive to his ex for two years & people knew it. Couple months go by, I was walking with a close friend one day and my abusive ex was walking the other way so I kept strolling but my friend stopped, hugged him & they chatted. I waited, picked up my jaw & asked my friend if he knew that the guy had also beaten our other friend too. He hung his head and said yes. They kept being friends. That broke my heart and watching my friend hug my abuser still hurts more today, years later, then the abuser who got pissed & socked me. Both are bad but one stings even worse.
I also hope her claim motivates others to speak out and I support any take down of a rapist. Many women must be very scared of this man so seeing Rose poke the bear & survive is a good thing. Maybe the next woman will blow it up and his buffet of young starlets to harm will end.
I think by “cowardly” and “culpable” she is referring to those who have not been victims of this man but who are aware that she, and by implication others, have suffered.
I don’t think a victim of such crimes ought ever to be held accountable for not reporting and ‘risking’ future victims. The nature of the crime, and public and authorities often unsupportive responses towards it, is such that many factors go into how resolved one can be in bringing to light the crime.
I would speculate, with some personal experience, that RMcG has wrestled for many years with the fear that she is somehow ‘responsible’ (NOT IMO) for leaving others exposed to potential assault against their person.
She is not “culpable” but those (not victims) who continue to shield a perpetrator knowingly must be held, in part, to account and be given notice on their culpability in the continuation of hell being brought to the lives of other women.
Wow. So because the system re-victimizes women for having the audacity to seek justice, you think it’s okay to judge someone for not choosing to press charges? Because she doesn’t want every single part of her life opened for judgement and discussion, to be ripped to shreds for what she’s worn, who she’s slept with, whether or not she ‘asked for it’? I sincerely hope you never have to learn first hand how hard it is for the women who do come forward.
I’m not judging her for not bringing charges. As I said in my post, I understand why she didn’t. I was only pointing out how her language could be construed. It was an unfortunate word choice. It is unquestionably within her right to choose to not bring charges or to file a civil suit.
It’s disgusting that people continue working with H.W. He makes or breaks careers. He has power, money, & privilege. Hopefully more of his victims will band together and together call for change
Oh ffs, this is why women don’t bother coming forward, its coz people like you say shit like “she didn’t fight this hard enough!” *SMDH
I think, sadly, all manner of legal consequences are currently preventing her from naming her (alleged) attacker. AND after many years of internalising the trauma she has edged herself to the extent to which she feels she can be forthcoming enough in the hope of creating a groundswell which eventually leads to more voices joining hers… and, perhap, following that, a subsequent naming of, and consequent, justice coming to bear.
In her courage thus far, no longer allowing opaqueness to the Hollywood conspiracy of silence, she hopes to give others the courage to stand together so that with greater strength of numbers this man might be exposed.
Agreed
“she hopes to give others the courage to stand together so that with greater strength of numbers this man might be exposed.”
Nice thought but sadly from recent experience (Cosby) it will likely take a man calling him out to finally get things going in Hollywood. They need a Hannibal Burgess.
I think she isn’t addressing everyone as much as those who have “heard things” but chose to work with him or anyone like him anyway. ALL of us have “heard things” about people we know or interact with on a daily basis and for most of us we don’t really know how to deal with it… sometimes the path of least resistance is the easiest, especially when it doesn’t directly affect us… and that is what she was referring to.
Her signs do seem to point to one of the Weinsteins. The stories and rumours are there and she would fit the profile of their chosen victims (not a great career, not much power). I hate when people try to make it seem like every woman who comes in contact with them was a casting couch issue (Cate Blanchett? Really?). That hurts the believability of the story. They’re not stupid, they’re selective. Let’s start examining evidence, not tabloid gossip.
Between Trump, this, and a court case that took place here in England in which a womans sexual past was used to vindicate the footballer who raped her, I’m done. 2016 can do one.
It’s so sad that ONE woman isn’t enough for people to believe, but I think in this particular case, it’s going to need to be something where multiple victims are ready to stand up and speak out. Which, seeing what all too often happens to the victims when they do, is going to be difficult, especially given the person she’s talking about.
Gotta be careful about victim blaming folks. We can’t have it exactly the way we want, if this is as much as she is capable of saying after her ordeal, I think she’s got balls to even come out like this. So many rape victims can’t even find the courage to speak out, so kudos to her for spreading awareness.
The Weinstein company doesn’t seem to be doing too well financially, weren’t they restructuring recently?
Rape is such an insidious thing. It goes to the very core of a persons self and twists and grinds until everything is in tatters. It’s a cruel demon to wrestle with so I sympathize with how she is handling this. Sadly though, anyone who get the chance to work with him has the opportunity to benefit greatly in the form of fame and fortune. Unfortunately, those two things are very difficult for many human beings to say no to. Sadly, this man is well protected in this life and probably will not face the consequences. Still, I love that she continues to make him uncomfortable and never lets him forget.
And, what kind of a P.O.S. would sell their sex tape to her rapist. That’s a new bloody low.
I think it’s great that she’s speaking out. She’s incredibly brave.However I think the blind gossip speculation is gross same as it was gross a few weeks back with the Corey Feldman accusations . So many people think they absolutely know who she’s talking about because of hints on unreliable sites but maybe they are wrong. I wish we could get some action by the authorities.And these creeps stopped from abusing.
Never gonna happen, Luca. I need some Hollywood Buff to back me up here, but I think the only case that was prosecuted was Fatty Arbuckle. Hollywood protects its own. Charlie Chaplin was left out to dry for marrying the teenage Oona only because he was seen as a threat and trouble to Hollywood producers. There are rape claims galore (check Kirk Douglas), young starlets used at orgies without their consent, forced, horrific abortions … seriously … The list goes on. It’s very insular, and as the attorney who Rose contacted informed her, no one stands a chance against studio lawyers and money.
What would maybe do the trick is a nice Wiki Leak, but God only knows if this stuff is in digital format. Probably locked away in a nice strong safe somewhere in multiple locations for the multiple studios.
I’m not a conspiracy theory nut, just someone who has been aware of this for a long time. Both Corey Feldman and Rose (and literally THOUSANDS of others) don’t stand a chance. And I truly am sorry to write that.
I’m not desputing the history there. All I can say is that I hope things come to light. Every year we get more of the truth out there. Look at what happened with Bill Cosby even if he hasn’t been actually jailed he’s been exposed as the rapist he is. I’m just sick of the blind gossip. Rape and pedophilia aren’t salacious fodder for gossip they are crimes.
” I’m just sick of the blind gossip. Rape and pedophilia aren’t salacious fodder for gossip they are crimes.” THIS. This. You don’t see it as often here, but on other celebrity gossip sites and with blind gossip, made-up stories speculating about people being sexually exploited are not only treated like normal entertainment and humor, but as something to use to throw shade (or sometimes directly insult) at celebrities for either being assholes, for getting too much attention for too little talent, or as criticism of choices that the people commenting disagree with. Lazily turning ‘sexually assaulted person’ into some type of concern-trolling, condescending insult really just plays into rape culture. (And not to mention the convenient way that it’s directed at women and gays).
@Luca76 I don’t think the way she’s dealing with this is like those sleazy gossip situations though. I think it’s brave and smart of her to come forward with it this way, because it could make her rapist feel uncomfortable and possibly out himself in some unintentional way while scrambling to defend himself. She’s actually talking about her own experiences. With sleazy gossip blogs it’s fanfiction hearsay about disapproved-of strangers.
I still think she is brave even if she did not name names. This letter was addressed to her friends/colleagues in Hollywood, they know whom she is talking about; it doesn’t matter if we do.
That Weinstein guy could care less, about her posts, plus i read she is dominatrix now, so has a lot of free time to blog about her failed acting career.
I bet he does. I bet he gets really, really pissed when people call him out on his shit. Dude usually has total control, but not in this scenario.
Anybody remember when Rose Mcgowan was on Howard Stern’s show and called him a sexist pig?
No but I am starting to like her more & more……
I believe it is true and I also believe she is just now suffering mentally from it. She seems so unwell. I hope she is able to heal.