Hollywood can spare us the indignation and “shock” over the Harvey Weinstein case. The same people that gave a tearful standing ovation to convicted child rapist Roman Polanski when he was awarded an Oscar (in absentia to avoid arrest and going to prison for drugging and sodomizing a 13-year old girl) in 2003 are now “horrified” to find out that Weinstein (who once signed a petition to have Polanski pardoned) systematically harassed and abused female stars.
I guess those in Hollywood have never seen the movie The Godfather where Vito Corleone’s godson–Johnny Fontane–isn’t given a movie role because the studio director is angry that a young actress that he was having a controlling relationship with left him for Fontane in the past. Perhaps, someone should have arranged to have a horse’s head put in Harvey Weinstein’s bed while he slept–to “send him a message”.
Of course, not everyone in Hollywood is “denouncing” the long-standing practice of sexual control. A few leading men that have dared speak out have come under a barrage of accusations themselves–most notably Ben and Casey Affleck–who sound like some real classy guys. Of course, that didn’t stop President Trump from throwing Weinstein under the bus–which inevitably led to the re-release of the Access Hollywood audio recordings and the return of everyone’s favorite pre-election catchphrase “Grab ’em by the p%$$#”
Instead of being angry with Hollywood studios, producers and stars, our attention should instead be on the folks at NBC News–for whom the person responsible for breaking this story, Ronan Farrow, works. Except Farrow didn’t get his story produced by NBC News, but instead had to go The New Yorker Magazine. Farrow alleges that the suits at NBC quashed his story because exposing Weinstein could be detrimental to the entertainment division–which obviously relies upon studios run by guys just like Weinstein–who don’t like their dirty laundry aired in public. Of course, Farrow has an axe to grid with Hollywood, as his dad–Woody Allen–left his mother–Mia Farrow–for his adopted step-sister–which everyone in the entertainment business treats like it’s no big deal.
I find it hard to believe that Farrow didn’t poke his head into the office of Rachel Maddow and tell her about the juicy scoop that he had. Being the champion of women’s rights, Maddow certainly would have given Farrow a platform for his story–well at least after Weinstein was done raising incredible amounts of money as a “bundler” for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Which brings us to the tepid condemnation of Weinstein by Clinton after being badgered on the topic for several days. That has inevitably resurrected the names of Juanita Bryant and Paula Jones–not to mention fun with interns in the Oval Office.
So just go back to gratuitous female nudity in your films, and casting fifty-something year old men as the romantic leads with twenty-something women and patting yourself on the back at award shows for how “tolerant” and “empowering” you are, Hollywood stars. We know your true colors.
