Keira Knightley opens up about sexual harassment: 'I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been'

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Keira Knightley is speaking out against the normalization of sexual harassment and misogyny in today's society.

From being cat-called to being groped, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actress admitted during a Harper's Bazaar interview published Tuesday that she has experienced sexual harassment — and she knows she's not the only one.

"Literally, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been (sexually harassed), in some way, whether it’s being flashed at, or groped, or some guy saying they’re going to slit your throat, or punching you in the face, or whatever it is, everybody has," Knightley said.

Like many other women, Knightley said she takes many safety precautions when walking home alone, calling this "(expletive) depressing."

“Pirates of the Caribbean” star Keira Knightley said "everybody" has experienced sexual harassment, whether in the form of groping or violent threats.
“Pirates of the Caribbean” star Keira Knightley said "everybody" has experienced sexual harassment, whether in the form of groping or violent threats.

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"When women started listing all the precautions they take when they walk home to make sure they’re safe … I thought, 'I do every single one of them, and I don’t even think about it,' " she said.

Knightley said she appreciated the suggestion of a "curfew for men."

"I love that politician who said there ought to be a curfew for men and men were outraged, and you think – but there’s a curfew for women and there always has been," she said.

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USA TODAY reached out to reps for Knightley for comment.

This isn't the first time Knightley has spoken out against sexism. In January, Knightley confirmed she would no longer act in sex scenes directed by men, attributing her reasoning to "the male gaze."

According to the actress, she would be open to shooting scenes with nudity if they were for a story about motherhood or body acceptance that was being made by a female filmmaker. Knightley is mom to 6-year-old Edie and 1-year-old Delilah, both of whom she shares with musician husband James Righton.

"If it was about motherhood and literally about how extraordinary that body is … then yeah, I would totally be up for kind of exploring that with a woman who would understand that," she said during an interview for the Chanel Connects podcast. "But I feel very uncomfortable now trying to portray the male gaze."

Contributing: Charles Trepany

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keira Knightley talks 'depressing' experiences with sexual harassment