I’m back, Dear Readers, and I have to talk about the Harvey Weinstein thing.
Too bad.
It comes as no great surprise to me that this disgusting, entitled, trauma-inducing and illegal behavior is alive and well in Casting Couch Hollywood.
It happens all the time.
And not just in Hollywood.
Too bad.
Famous women all over the world have rung in about their own awful experiences with these despicable predators. No need to recap them here.
But one person’s story really resonated with me.
It was Liza Campbell’s. She’s a British writer and she took a meeting with Harvey at the Savoy in London in the hopes of getting an advancement at Miramax.
Instead of a discussion about her career at his company, what she got was Weinstein stripping and asking her to soap him up.
She fled in disgust- and fear.
As she wrote in the U.K’s Sunday Times “It took me days to calm down from the anger I felt and the crushing realization that there never was a job; only a hidden hook.”
(My bold letters.)
That really rang my bell.
Never a job. Just a trick.
Too bad.
I’ve already written about my own personal horrible encounter with legendary lech- former Tribune star columnist Bob Greene.
(If you can stomach it, read all about it here.)
But it was just my luck to come to the attention of this douchebag, too.
TV film critic Michael Medved.
Yuck.
About twenty-five years ago, when he and Jeffrey Lyons were hosting a tv movie review show, Sneak Previews, he got in touch with me and invited me to meet with him regarding a search for a new co-host.
OMG.
I was, back then, a columnist working for the Pioneer Press looking for a way to break into television. I had a huge interest in film coupled with a vast amount of movie knowledge. This audition sounded like a dream come true.
I was also happily married suburban mother of two.
But when MM invited me downtown to the Ambassador East (where he stayed during the taping of the show at WTTW’s studio) I wasn’t worried. He was, after all, also happily married, a father of three and VERY religious. Almost a rabbi or something.
I wasn’t concerned about his intentions or my safety. Just excited and anxious to make a great impression. I could do this job. I knew it.
He could only meet in the evening as he taped the show during the day. So I wasn’t surprised when he asked me to come downtown for a dinner meeting. We would meet in the lobby, he said.
I’m night blind and can’t drive when the sun goes down so I called for a limousine to take me to the Ambassador East. But when the limo driver dropped me off and I made my way into the lobby…
No MM in sight.
So I called his room- no, make that suite- and he said he was running late and could I come up for a few minutes and have a brief interview before we headed out for dinner.
What would you do if you wanted that job?
I went up.
No, he wasn’t naked. No, he didn’t want a massage. In fact, he was pretty nice, asked some pertinent questions and told me a little about himself.
Then he told me that he kept kosher and was very strict in his observance and would I mind eating at the Indian restaurant within walking distance of the hotel?
Sure, no problem.
We ate and then we walked back to his hotel. MM said he he had a few more interview questions to go over with me and asked that I go back up with him.
What would you do?
I went.
And that’s when he suggested that I stay the night.
I remember being struck by the fact that that slime ball hypocrite was zealous about keeping kosher but didn’t seem to mind breaking the Ten Commandments at all.
Ugh.
I hastily went downstairs, called for a limo and fumed all the way back to Winnetka. (BTW, the limo cost $45 each way back then and Medved, if you’re reading this, I’d like you to refund my money.)
There was never a job. Only a hidden hook.
And I had been fished in.
Too bad.
I had a similar experience with a school superintendent (the creeps are in every trade) when I was marketing my child sexual abuse prevention program to public school districts and a few parochial schools. I was hoping to get a sale when I met him for dinner at a restaurant near the airport in Wichita (an hour from my house) where he was to fly out the next morning to a conference in some other state. He had driven in from Western Kansas (I live in Central Kansas) to fly out of Wichita. There was no sale, only a proposal to stay the night with him in his hotel. There was no intention to buy my curriculum, it was the hidden hook. Needless to say, I was it didn’t take me long to find my car and head home. So I easily get it when you say, “…..there never was a job; only a hidden hook.”
Ironically, there was an earlier incident the same evening as I pulled up to a stoplight just blocks from the restaurant. The car next to me honked. I looked over at him. He acted like he was masturbating. Before I could honk back (or stick my finger up my nose), he turned right at the light and took off. It was the same day my college daughter was exposed to by a man running in her direction as she walked across campus (U of Nebraska). He was dressed in a typical running outfit but holding what looked like a paper lunch sack in front of his groin. As he neared and then passed my daughter, he lifted the paper sack, exposing his penis. Gads, there had to be something in the air that day.
First of all, Susan, let me say how sorry I am that these ugly immoral – not too mention- illegal things happened to you and your daughter. Ugh. Just revolting. Sadly, I bet you’re not alone. Women are subjected to this repulsive and upsetting stuff every day. And I fear this will never end. High profile creeps like Weinstein may be outed and their power to harass and assault taken away but the common ordinary garden variety of pervert will probably never be stopped. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope it helps give you some closure.
Cosby arrested.
Weinstein fired.
Helperin suspended.
Trump President.
I guess the secret is to brag about it, not to try to hide it.
Sad but so true, my friend. A repulsive sleaze as CIC. Who would have dreamt it possible? A disgrace upon the office- and the nation.
I think you forgot Bill Clinton President. I seem to remember he got a HUGE pass…and still gets one. He did the exact same things Weinstein did. I don’t remember him being called a sleaze bag. He was and is a sleaze bag but all I hear from the Trump haters is reverance for the Clintons. I didn’t vote for Trump, but sexual predators and douche bags know no political bounds.
Bill Clinton is a cheating hound dog with zipper problem and an enabling wife. Both should be ashamed. But clearly they are above reproach. Yuck.
Unless one spoke out about Bill Clinton being a sexual predator, then that person has zero credibility speaking out about Trump.
Bill Clinton is a sexual predator. In private industry he would have been forced to resign. Not only did his wife enable him but the entire Democratic Party did as well by saying, “It was just about sex.”
Clinton dropping his pants in front of a female subordinate, or getting oral sex in the White House from an intern, accusations of rape by more than one woman who worked under him…He should be more than ashamed, he should be in jail just like what should happen to Weinstein.
I am so sorry, Ellen, for what happened to you, but if the problem is going to be stopped then there can be no enablers, no people to excuse the despicable behavior. That goes for Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and anyone else I missed, no matter how high up the chain of command.
I agree about the Clintons. Entitled partners in crime. Taking advantage of young impressionable people in their thrall- and then ruining their lives with lies. Why did Hillary go along with the program? I couldn’t stay with a serial adulterer. Why did she? Shame on her.
Missing from the list is Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary.
You know, Hillary the enabler and phony who trird to destroy the women that accused her husband.
Besides, do you really think all this stuff would have come to light if Weinstein’s friend, Hillary won the election?
Yes, I do. This is sexual politics- an “across the aisle” problem.
No way it would have come to light.
It would have been more important to protect Hillary!!
I’m sorry but I think it was bound to come to light no matter who the president. Ashley Judd’s mind is not controlled by Hillary Clinton. I just don’t see the connection. The Clintons are shameless. They don’t care enough about Harvey Weinstein to protect him.
Glad you are back and full of p… and vinegar
Figured you were a vixen even then
Still waiting to get together although not in a
hotel room cause it would be a bit crowded
with BF and my sig o
LOL
Thanks, Jess. Yes, I could handle myself back then but these encounters make you feel stupid and dirty even when you couldn’t possibly have foreseen the danger. These guys are practiced at what they do. It ain’t their first rodeo, that’s for sure. It’s a numbers game with them. Sometimes they must actually succeed. Ick. Glad to hear from you. Yes, a hotel room would be crowded with all 4 of us but hope we can find a time and a place to get us together. And soon.
You failed to mention the phony liberal, Hollywood A-Listers lecturing the rest of us about woman’s rights and feminism all the while keeping their mouths shut and even giving standing ovations to known schmucks like Polanski and Weinstein at awards ceremonies.
How much responsibility do THEY bear?
From a woman’s POV there is plenty of blame to go around. Sexual predators know no one party. They only have allegiance to themselves. And let’s not forget to mention politicos who prey on boys. Dennis Hastert ring a bell?
And Roman Polanski who was given a standing ovation at the Oscars??!!!
So was Elia Kazan. Hollywood is embarrass-proof. No use looking for a moral compass there. Just remember what Judge Welch said at the McCarthy Hearings.
Face it. The left thinks they have a moral compass.
They’re just a bunch of phonies!
In 1992, when Bill Clinton was virtually unknown in Illinois and was running in the Illinois Presidential Primary, I attended a fundraiser (Meet the Candidates-type of event) where the candidates spoke. As the end of the evening, the guests were asked not to leave the room until the candidates and their spouses left. Bill Clinton, as he walked up the aisle spotted and made a beeline for me. He took both of his hands in my right hand and proceeded to engage me in light conversation. I have to admit he was charismatic, but to be honest with you, I was a married woman and took his interest in me as looking for a vote. Hillary went on ahead, although fiercely looking back and proceeded to give me a stare filled with hate that I will never forget. It seemed that any woman who Bill engaged was the fault of his womanizing. She proceeded to speak to security personnel who then came over and physically “hauled” him off. No, I didn’t end up voting for Bill in 1992, but I did in 1996, purely on who I felt like supporting back then.
Very interrseting, Annie. Nice to have a first hand account of Bill Clinton’s “One Woman One Vote” strategy. Thanks for sharing your up close and really personal encounter with BOTH of the Clintons. Charismatic? Yes. Ethical? ??
I’m a bit confused as to why everyone is bringing up Bill Clinton’s sexual incidents in response without mentioning some of our other presidents’ sexual acting out, including John F. Kennedy. As this article says, no less than 14 presidents going back to Washington allegedly had affairs. The list includes both Republican and Democrat presidents. And why are people being so mean about Hillary? None of the wives of these other presidents left their husbands either so they weren’t any different than Hillary. And I have yet to read any articles from valid newspapers with details on how Hillary tried to destroy the women who accused her husband. I want the details. everything I ever read gave no details and were articles from fake or alt news sites. No, hateful stares don’t count, nor does dragging one’s husband off when he’s flirting with someone – pretty normal reactions if you ask me based on Bill’s past.
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/25/us/president-under-fire-history-14-presidents-have-been-talk-pillow.html
Valid point here, Susan. I can only speak for my point of view about the Clintons. He was blatant- didn’t try to hide his bad boy behavior. And I find Hillary’s complicit behavior particularly heinous because the times and mores have changed and she’s supposed to be a champion of women’s rights- not interested in decorating the White House ala Jackie Kennedy. These poor beleaguered cheated on First Ladies of past eras just reflected the “stand by your man” divorce is a sin ethics of their day. And if you’re looking for the truth about the Clintons joint coverup, I suggest you watch Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk. Just pathetic. Certainly not fake news.
Oops, I missed mentioning the sexual incidents by former President George H.W. Bush. I wonder how long he’s been doing this kind of thing. I hope Barbara doesn’t kick him out.
I have always heard the rumors that he had a longtime mistress. He must be too old for her now hence the fanny-patting incidents. An old Lech. Yuck.
I still have a hard time understanding why Monica Lewinsky continues to hash the whole ugly episode out in public. Maybe it’s the attention or vengeance she still needs. If it had been me, I would have moved ahead in my life and held my head up high. The episode was ugly enough I don’t want to hear about it from Bill or Monica. When I read several articles about presidents who had affairs, it appears to me Kennedy has Clinton beat when it comes to numbers. And I don’t think Kennedy worked hard at hiding his bad boy behavior either, including his romps at the White House with Marilyn. I heard his wife wanted to leave but his family paid her to stay. I have no idea if that’s that’s accurate. In one of my social work classes before Clinton was elected, our teacher gave us some articles about his childhood and loose adult past so we could play at analyzing him. Frankly, I was surprised he kept his zipper closed as long as he did as president. But then maybe he never did close it after all. I try to stay away from being judgmental of women for the decisions they make when married to a philanderer. There are many reasons why some leave and some stay. I also stay away from telling people what to do with their marriage. I do know the Clintons got extensive counseling, individual and couple. As for the old lech Bush – why does he think women will be pleased if he pats their fanny? Yuck is right!
A fair and accurate account of the situation, Susan. I’m sure that story about old man Kennedy paying Jackie a million bucks to stay is true. As to why women stay with serial philanderers, take it from me, it’s the same as staying with physically abusive men. Your self-esteem is eaten away until you are nothing. Hard to get up the courage to walk out. And then you get punished financially and even socially sometimes. Being divorced is no picnic for any woman.