Why Aren't Men Also Calling Out Harvey Weinstein?

Jenna Amatulli
Updated

The New York Times published a bombshell report Thursday about film executive Harvey Weinstein, detailing three decades of sexual-harassment allegations.

Since then, dozens of female celebrities have expressed support for the women in the Times story. Lena Dunham, Amber Tamblyn and Rose McGowan ― who reached a settlement with Weinstein in 1997 ― shared their thoughts on social media.

It’s great to see such powerful women rallying for one another, but one group is mysteriously missing from this conversation: men.

Of course, some men have spoken out. Director and writer Judd Apatow lamented the fact that Weinstein could use monetary settlements to keep women silent. And journalist Jake Tapper remarked on Ashley Judd’s bravery.

It’s nice that those men said something at all. But neither called out Weinstein specifically for what he did, or disavowed Weinstein’s actions. In contrast, many men called out Bill O’Reilly and Bill Cosby by name when those stars were faced with similar accusations.

The stakes are high for anyone who dares to call out Weinstein. He is a tour de force, both physically and professionally, and has connections all over Hollywood and beyond. As an actor, the fear of being blacklisted and out of a job is real.

But these women showed immense strength by telling, on a massive scale, what happened to them.

Now, men’s deafening silence only goes to show the stronghold Weinstein has over the media and Hollywood. But by staying quiet, these men are saying something: When women speak up, we won’t always have your back.

Perhaps there just needs to be a spark. Perhaps just one Weinstein’s hundreds of male friends can come out and say something to get the rest of them talking.

Actors Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Madsen and producer Harvey Weinstein pose during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2017. (Photo: Theo Wargo via Getty Images)
Actors Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Madsen and producer Harvey Weinstein pose during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2017. (Photo: Theo Wargo via Getty Images)
Clint Eastwood (L) and Weinstein attend a dinner in Cap d'Antibes, France, on May 20, 2017. (Photo: David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Clint Eastwood (L) and Weinstein attend a dinner in Cap d'Antibes, France, on May 20, 2017. (Photo: David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Weinstein and Jay Z speak onstage on March 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images)
Weinstein and Jay Z speak onstage on March 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images)
Actor Kevin Bacon, Weinstein and host Colin Firth attend a dinner in in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo: David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Actor Kevin Bacon, Weinstein and host Colin Firth attend a dinner in in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo: David M. Benett via Getty Images)

Now is the time for men to say, “Women, we support you.” Men should be calling out Harvey Weinstein ― by name. As McGowan tweeted, “Stand up. We need you as allies.” And yes, as her hashtag also says, be brave. We need you to be brave.

Nearly a year ago to the day, reports surfaced of the infamous Access Hollywood recording of President Donald Trump saying he tried to have sex with a married woman and can grab women “by the pussy” because he’s famous. Trump, like Weinstein, is a colossus. And despite his misogyny, is the leader of the free world.

If Trump has proved anything at all, it’s that women alone cannot bring down men who hold vast power and wealth. So, men, if you’re out there ... call out Weinstein. Say something.

If you have more information about Harvey Weinstein, send us an email: scoops@huffingtonpost.com.

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"It happens at any time."

“I was tattooed by a guy and while he was tattooing me, he kept inserting his fingers up my vagina. He said he had to keep his hand there to keep the skin taut for tattooing. The most ironic part is that the tattoo is the symbol for female; I wanted the tattoo as a sign of feminism and got sexually assaulted in the process.”
“I was tattooed by a guy and while he was tattooing me, he kept inserting his fingers up my vagina. He said he had to keep his hand there to keep the skin taut for tattooing. The most ironic part is that the tattoo is the symbol for female; I wanted the tattoo as a sign of feminism and got sexually assaulted in the process.”

"It happens unwillingly."

“I can't remember details or the order of things, but she was very, very aggressive. She left bruises all over me and I was bleeding the next morning. She held me down and forced a lot. I didn't say no clearly, but I definitely didn't agree to the aggressive actions she took. Lack of consent is not the presence of a no, it's also the absence of a yes.”

"It happens anywhere."

“I lost my virginity at a party when I was in middle school. He gave me a drink and I can’t really remember what happened after that. Just bits and pieces for the most part... but I couldn’t say no or push him off while he made me have sex with him. I woke up next to him and I was really sore but i couldn’t tell anyone what happened.”

"It happens suddenly."

“I blacked out and just remember very short flashing images… I remember him asking me if I was on birth control, but I was too incoherent to talk. I was trying to explain that I wasn't. We had sex anyway. I didn't want to and I barely remember it." 
“I blacked out and just remember very short flashing images… I remember him asking me if I was on birth control, but I was too incoherent to talk. I was trying to explain that I wasn't. We had sex anyway. I didn't want to and I barely remember it." 

"It happens to anyone."

“When I was in high school, the only place to live for me was my uncle's place. I thought I could trust them, but there were nights when I would wake up to one of them, the biological one, in my room, or he would sneakily try to touch my junk. I never really resolved it.”
“When I was in high school, the only place to live for me was my uncle's place. I thought I could trust them, but there were nights when I would wake up to one of them, the biological one, in my room, or he would sneakily try to touch my junk. I never really resolved it.”

"It happens unexpectedly."

“I was at a party once, sober, and two of my good female friends pulled me aside, telling me that someone needed help. They pulled me into this room and pinned me against the wall and started kissing me and taking my pants off, but I was able to push them off and leave. The two girls who were my friends claim that they don't remember the incident since they were drunk.”

"It happens without reason."

“We had been drinking and, by the end of the night, I had lost all control. I was falling in and out of consciousness. I remember waking up with him on top of me but I kept passing back out before I could do anything about it. I always thought it was my fault for getting too drunk.”
“We had been drinking and, by the end of the night, I had lost all control. I was falling in and out of consciousness. I remember waking up with him on top of me but I kept passing back out before I could do anything about it. I always thought it was my fault for getting too drunk.”

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.