The entertainment industry has a terrible problem with sexual misconduct.
The #MeToo movement exposed some of the worst offenders in Hollywood and the media.
But two actresses might’ve destroyed the movement for good because of one ugly public fight.
Predators Captured
Sexual predators have preyed on people within Hollywood forever.
The trope of the “casting couch” persists today.
Executives with power and access use that to lure people into the bedroom.
Perhaps the worst offender was mega-producer Harvey Weinstein.
The Oscar-winning kingmaker had a reputation of forcing himself on women going back decades.
It was an open secret in the town.
But nobody did anything.
Finally, Weinstein appeared on tape harassing a woman in his hotel room.
Other credible allegations from dozens of women poured in.
Weinstein’s career ended before he even stepped foot in a courthouse.
The same happened to actor Kevin Spacey.
Multiple allegations of sexual assault against men and teenage boys sank Spacey.
Bill Cosby suffered the same fate.
News media heavyweights Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose saw their careers go up in smoke after serious claims.
Senator Al Franken and other members of Congress even got swept up in sexual misconduct accusations.
Actresses Rose McGowan and Asia Argento, both victims of Weinstein, were the leaders of a movement that exposed several vile predators hiding in plain sight.
Backlash Against The Movement
But as is the case with most movements, they go too far.
Some women began mixing in awkward flirting and bad dates with charges of rape and sexual assault.
Actor Matt Damon denounced sexual misconduct but said it was important to draw the line between an unwanted touch and forcible rape.
For this, he endured attacks from radical feminists within the movement.
An anonymous woman ripped Aziz Ansari for an unromantic date where she willingly slept with him.
Social media pressure pushed him to apologize for nothing.
Actor Henry Cavill took heat for saying he feared pursuing unknown women because of the potential for false allegations.
Comedian Chris Hardwick almost lost two hosting gigs after an ex-girlfriend claimed he was simply a controlling partner.
McGowan herself even got attacked by a transgender activist for not being “woke” enough.
Actresses Go To War
The movement suffered an even greater hit when Argento was accused of statutory rape.
Argento had sex with former child actor Jimmy Bennett when he was 17 and she was 37.
Argento denied the claims.
McGown rushed to her defense despite not waiting for due process for other allegations.
But Argento’s story crumbled after both Bennett and McGowan’s partner Rain Dove leaked proof of sexual contact.
Asia Argento and 17-Year-Old Boy in Bed in Sexual Encounter https://t.co/y6EeKOdPT7
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 22, 2018
McGowan turned on her friend in a long statement. She said, “I loved you. You’ve spent and risked a lot to stand with the MeToo movement. I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment.”
McGown had no choice but to throw her under the bus after the credible charges.
She continued, “Anyone can be be better- I hope you can be, too. Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course. Be the person you wish Harvey could have been.”
Argento didn’t take too kindly to McGowan’s public rebuke and threatened legal action.
Dear @RoseMcGowan. It is with genuine regret that I am giving you 24 hours to retract and apologise for the horrendous lies made against me in your statement of August 27th. If you fail to address this libel I will have no option other than to take immediate legal action.
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) September 17, 2018
McGowan refused to remove the statement.
Thus, Argento tweeted again saying her lawyers were getting involved.
To @rosemcgowan. The 24hr deadline given to retract your recent false statements about me has now passed. I must inform you & @raindovemodel that I’ve instructed Mishcon de Reya to seek substantial damages for deception, fraud, coercion and libel. You will hear from them shortly.
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) September 18, 2018
This was inevitable.
There was bound to be sexual misconduct amongst the accusers.
Now the movement is in complete shambles.
