In the wake of the mounting sexual harassment and assault accusations against Harvey Weinstein, as well as the alleged abuser's abysmal apology, many members of the entertainment industry have publicly condemned the Hollywood executive, including Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence. Brooklyn-99 star Terry Crews, on the other hand, took to social media to share his own story of being harassed.
On Tuesday, the actor revealed that the Weinstein story has been giving him PTSD in a series of tweets, going on to recount an unnamed Hollywood executive groping him during a party. Before reacting to the executive's abuse, Crews rethought how the media might frame the situation. "I was going to kick his ass right then — but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear. '240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho' would be the headline the next day."
In the subsequent days, Crews says, the executive's colleagues were informed of his inappropriate behavior. This apparently led the man to apologize, as being outed as an abuser so often does (as opposed to actual remorse), but he never provided an explanation for his harassment. Crews decided to stay quiet in order to avoid being ostracized by members of their shared industry, but notes that the executive "knows who he is."
Without question, it is incredibly difficult to speak publicly as a sexual assault or harassment survivor. Not only do many relive the pain, anxiety, and isolation that these experiences can cause, they can be subjected to people questioning their integrity and, oftentimes, even their memory. For those who belong to marginalized demographics, there are additional difficulties at every step of the judicial system. According to the Department of Justice, black Americans are one of the most at-risk demographics for experiencing rape and sexual assault, yet institutional racism adds yet another obstacle for those who are victims of sexual harassment and assault, and may contribute towards a reluctance to report abuse to law enforcement.
Men who go public often face unique challenges of their own: medical providers, police officers, and judges may not see them as victims. Their sexuality may be questioned and judged to an end that is socially, economically, or even physically detrimental to their wellbeing. Whether or not they "fought back enough" is heavily scrutinized. Just as Crews touches on in his tweets, the headlines would likely have focused on his size, gender, and race rather than the fact that someone groped him without consent.
By coming forward, Crews is sending an important message to victims of sexual assault and harassment, especially those who may blame themselves or feel silenced, that they are not alone, nor was anything their fault. Read the full thread by Crews below.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, visit RAINN.org or call (800) 656-HOPE for information and resources that can help.
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