Alyssa Milano started the social media movement #MeToo Sunday afternoon to shed light on the widespread problem of sexual assault, harassment and rape.
The crusade Sunday began when she tweeted a note from a friend that said, “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.”
Milano added, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” Social media flood gates opened, with thousands replying “#MeToo,” causing it to trend.
If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/k2oeCiUf9n
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2017
All this began after several women came forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, harassment and rape, including Milano’s “Charmed” co-star Rose McGowan. A representative for Weinstein has stated, “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.”
In an essay for PatriotNotPartisan.com last week, Milano wrote that while she is “sickened and angered” over accusations of Weinstein’s abuse of power, she is “ecstatic” that it has opened up a dialogue around sexual harassment, objectification and degradation of women.
“To the women who have suffered any form of abuse of power, I stand beside you. To the women who have come forward against a system that is designed to keep you silent, I stand in awe of you and appreciate you and your fortitude,” she wrote. “Your strength will inspire others.”
Me too
— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) October 15, 2017
Me too https://t.co/ScX67Kmmiy
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) October 15, 2017
Me, too #MeToo
— Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose) October 15, 2017
Me too. I don’t know if means anything coming from a gay man but it’s happened. Multiple times.
— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) October 15, 2017