How the Harvey Weinstein Scandal Has Rippled Beyond Hollywood

From an Olympian to legislators

McKayla Maroney
McKayla Maroney (Photo: Getty)

The allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have steadily mounted since a bombshell New York Times story ran in early October. It has inspired droves of women in Hollywood to share their stories, dozens of which have included sexual misconduct claims against Weinstein himself. The renewed focus on sexual harassment served as a catalyst for the #MeToo campaign on Twitter and Facebook — as civilians and stars alike — including those outside of entertainment — have been sharing their stories. Here’s how a lot of it has played out so far among public figures outside of Hollywood:

Sports

Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney accused former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar of molesting her beginning at age 13 in a Twitter post early Wednesday morning. “People should know this is not just happening in Hollywood. It’s happening everywhere,” the 21-year-old gold medalist wrote. She said that he told her he was giving her medical “treatment,” and that the abuse started when she was 13 and didn’t end until she left the sport.

“For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old,” she said. “I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He’d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a ‘treatment.’ I thought I was going to die that night.”

Nassar is currently in jail in Michigan awaiting sentencing after he plead guilty to possession of child pornography, and is also awaiting trial for being charged in February with sexually abusing nine gymnasts.

“Our silence has given the wrong people power for too long, and it’s time to take our power back,” Maroney said in her Twitter post. “And remember, it’s never too late to speak up.”

Politics

More than 140 women on Tuesday came forward with stories of “pervasive” sexual misconduct by powerful men in California’s Capitol. Legislators, senior legislative aids and lobbyists described “groping, lewd comments and suggestions of trading sexual favors for legislation while doing business in Sacramento,” according to the New York Times.

“As women leaders in politics, in a state that postures itself as a leader in justice and equality, you might assume our experience has been different,” the women said in a letter published in the LA Times. “It has not. Each of us has endured, or witnessed or worked with women who have experienced some form of dehumanizing behavior by men in power in our workplaces.”

“Men have groped and touched us without our consent, made inappropriate comments about our bodies and our abilities,” it continued. “Why didn’t we speak out? Sometimes out of fear. Sometimes out of shame. Often these men hold our professional fates in their hands.”

Journalism

Several journalists have shared their stories of sexual harassment and sexual assault on Twitter and other social media with the #MeToo movement. The Daily Beast’s Olivia Messer wrote a piece about dealing with covering sexual misconduct as a survivor. According to a recent online survey, 46 percent of women in journalism have been sexually harassed at work.

Local Western Washington journalist Amity Addrisi shared her own personal story on live TV Tuesday as part of the #MeToo campaign. She described visiting family in Colorado as a four-year-old for a summer where her cousin molested her.

“This is the first time I’ve told my story on television. In fact, it was just a few weeks ago that I told the story publicly for the first time to a gathering of abuse survivors,” she said. “So, why now? Because I think it’s time to wipe away the glossy exterior. Anyone can be affected by childhood sexual abuse. Even the lady who brings you the news and wishes you good morning with a smile on her face.”

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