If you’ve had your eye on the news this week, you will have seen that loads of celebs from Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man) to Rose McGowan (Charmed) have spoken out about being sexually abused by Hollywood film producer, Harvey Weinstein.
And if you’ve hit up Insta today, you will have noticed that beloved model Cara Delevingne has revealed that she, too, has been sexually abused by the 65-year-old man.
Cara shared an inspo quote that reads: ‘Don’t be ashamed of your story, it will inspire others’.
Her lengthy caption details her harrowing experience of being abused by Weinstein.
“When I first started to work as an actress, i was working on a film and I received a call from Harvey Weinstein asking if I had slept with any of the women I was seen out with in the media,” she writes.
“It was a very odd and uncomfortable call….i answered none of his questions and hurried off the phone but before I hung up, he said to me that If I was gay or decided to be with a woman especially in public that I’d never get the role of a straight woman or make it as an actress in Hollywood. A year or two later, I went to a meeting with him in the lobby of a hotel with a director about an upcoming film. The director left the meeting and Harvey asked me to stay and chat with him. As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn’t and wouldn’t be for a bit and I should go to his room.”
“I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear.”
She continues: “At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn’t want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing….i thought it would make the situation better….more professional….like an audition….i was so nervous.”
“After singing I said again that I had to leave. He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room. I still got the part for the film and always thought that he gave it to me because of what happened. Since then I felt awful that I did the movie. I felt like I didn’t deserve the part. I was so hesitant about speaking out….I didn’t want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong. I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear,” she concludes.
Shortly after, the 25-year-old posted another inspo tile that reads: ‘The devil whispered in my ear, “you’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.” Today I whispered in the devil’s ear, “I am the storm.”‘
In the caption, the model/actress urges women who have been sexually assaulted to speak up against their abusers.
“I want women and girls to know that being harassed or abused or raped is NEVER their fault and not talking about it will always cause more damage than speaking the truth,” she writes.
“I am relieved to be able to share this….i actually feel better and I’m proud of the women who are brave enough to speak….this isn’t easy but there are strength in our numbers. As I said, this is only the beginning. In every industry and especially in Hollywood, men abuse their power using fear and get away with it. This must stop. The more we talk about it, the less power we give them. I urge you all to talk and to the people who defend these men, you are part of the problem.”
Since the allegations have gone public, loads of celebs have spoken out in defence of the victims including Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence.
Harvey Weinstein has also been dismissed as co-chairman of the company that he co-founded.
Now that more and more women have spoken out about being abused by Weinstein, more celebs are expected to come forward.
If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual harassment in any way, speak confidentially to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day:
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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