Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo/sexual misconduct scandals

Spon Farmer · 19-04-2022 11:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929503#Comment_118929503

He is one of the 27%ers

he was great in The Americans (but of course everyone was) and I cannot understand why he was not in the main cast.

JP Liz V1 · 22-04-2022 1:31am

Deadline

Following the news that production was suspended on the Searchlight film Being Mortal, sources tell Deadline the reason for suspension had to do with a complaint made against star Bill Murray for inappropriate behavior.

It is unknown at this time what Murray’s involvement in the project will be going forward as the investigation remains active. Insiders add that Aziz Ansari — who is starring, writing and making his directorial debut on the film alongside his partner Youree Henley — was not a part of the complaint, nor was Seth Rogen, who also appears in Being Mortal.

Quantum Erasure · 22-04-2022 5:45am

Hangdogroad · 27-04-2022 10:04am

Music rather than movie related, fits with the overall pattern. Probably not that well known in Ireland (except maybe among hip fans) but he's pretty high profile in Britain, kind of a John Peel of rap.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61188603

RabbleRouser2k · 28-04-2022 4:54am

Actress in Dr Strange accused of raping a 13 year old girl.

https://pagesix.com/2022/04/27/doctor-strange-actress-zara-phythian-husband-accused-of-sex-with-teen/

Agent Coulson · 04-05-2022 6:43pm

Bill Murrary

"I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way."

The actor Bill Murray said that a movie in which he was set to star was suspended because an attempt at humor had been taken amiss by a female co-star, addressing publicly for the first time an episode that has gotten widespread attention.

“I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way,” Murray said in an interview on Saturday with CNBC’s Becky Quick, during coverage of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

Murray, who is 71, labeled the episode a “difference of opinion” and did not apologize. While limiting his discussion of what happened to generalities and without going into detail, he spoke contritely about unwittingly “insensitive” behavior.

“I’ve been doing not much else but thinking about it for the last week or two,” he said. “The world’s different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now.”.........

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/01/arts/bill-murray-misconduct-being-mortal.html

Hangdogroad · 06-05-2022 7:40am

Actress in question is supposedly Keke Palmer (no, me neither)

pixelburp · 06-05-2022 8:08am

Man, Murray is an old looking 71. A lifetime of being an àsshole by reputation didn't exactly make this news surprising. The contrition reads genuine mind you.

RabbleRouser2k · 06-05-2022 1:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022059#Comment_119022059

He looks like an average 71 year old. I know Steve Martin is older, but Steve's weirdly aging backwards.

From what I've read, and from what I've heard, from people in the know, Murray tends to be impatient to the 'Hollywood' types, but to regular, genuine people- your normal everyday Joe and Joan Soap, actors and filmmakers who have a unique approach, or generally create a fun work environment that allows him 'riff' or rewrite dialogue- he's actually really pleasant, really professional and has fun. (Case in point, when he holidayed here in Ireland, recently, seemed to have really enjoyed himself).

When you read about him being a jerk, it tends to be people who think their flatulence doesn't stink. Chevy Chase, for one thing, he DESPISED (He punched him). And tbh, he wasn't the only one. (A 2002 roast of Chevy was heavily edited for TV-apparently the comedians were SAVAGE to Chase. He cried after.) The incident on Charlies Angels with Lucy Liu (he made some comment, she physically attacked him - that ticked him off. He's also not gonna hit a woman. So he went to his trailer, and stayed there for the whole day.) Stuff like GroundHog Day and What About Bob, he's owned up to. (The latter he claimed he was encouraged to be a jerk on the set, on account of him and Richard Dreyfuss meant to not like one another).

Xander10 · 06-05-2022 1:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119016007#Comment_119016007

confusing. was it something he said?

FunLover18 · 06-05-2022 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023307#Comment_119023307

"He's also not gonna hit a woman."

He has been accused of domestic abuse in the past.

RabbleRouser2k · 06-05-2022 3:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023953#Comment_119023953

Which he strenuously denied. And the allegations were withdrawn before they went to court. Do you honestly think a guy who genuinely hit women would stand idly by if a woman chose to physically attack him? We know that Harvey Weinstein didn't care if he had an audience or not, he'd make threats or by physically violent any hour of the day.

I've even heard first hand accounts of notable domestic abusers not caring if they had an audience or not if they hit someone, of the opposite gender, knowing they could get away with it. Didn't care if they had an audience.

If Murray was genuinely a woman beater, there would be many instances or documentations of it. As it is, there was one allegation, which was withdrawn, in a very, very messy divorce. Meanwhile, he's very active in his children's lives. Compare that to other folks who want nothing to do with their parent's abuser.

FunLover18 · 06-05-2022 4:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024157#Comment_119024157

I didn't know they were withdrawn. Apologies in advance if I’ve misinterpreted but you seem in general very willing to sweep the negative feedback under the carpet and blame the other parties for being unprofessional or having their own egos. I'm not calling for Murray to be “cancelled” and I’m not saying I believe everything that’s been said but there are enough stories about him being difficult for me to conclude that he may be a bit of a jerk (not on the same scale of Weinstein or the likes) and not necessarily the loveable guy we glean from social media stories. Without knowing any context excpet that a whole production was shut down, his statement above reads very much like a stubborn old man unwilling to change with the times.

06-05-2022 4:11pm

being a jerk shouldnt be in scope for this thread nor for mention in the same breath as #metoo, unless it means literally nothing

ive no doubt bill murray is a very annoying person to be around, at 71 and giving zero fcks for forty years or more, working in an industry where the general behaviour ranges from monstrous at the far end of credible and ignored weinstein style actions over many years through to having to be arsed dealing with the vapidity and ego of the typical hollywood star machine.

zero credit accrues to anyone cherrypicking vague whispers and running a mile with them imo

FunLover18 · 06-05-2022 6:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024382#Comment_119024382

I'm not saying being a jerk is in the scope and I didn't post the original story. The fact we don't know what went down, all we know is that a production was shut down entirely over a "difference of opinion" (his words) which I think is unlikely. Neither am I cherry picking "vague whispers".

07-05-2022 4:57pm

Fred savage fired from the wonder years reboot for inappropriate conduct

“Recently, we were made aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Fred Savage, and as is policy, an investigation was launched. Upon its completion, the decision was made to terminate his employment as an executive producer and director of The Wonder Years,” a spokesman for 20th Television said in a statement

JP Liz V1 · 07-05-2022 5:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119028511#Comment_119028511

OMG the kid from The Princess Bride, so many stories coming out on younger actors more now not that age should matter

RabbleRouser2k · 07-05-2022 11:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024353#Comment_119024353

I think it's less about defending negative behaviours, more about saying 'yeah, he's owned up to many, many bad behaviours' that the one's he denies, I just tend to believe it. I think on Groundhog Day, it actually got to the point where Harold Ramis physically attacked him because he was sick of Murray's behaviour. (Ramis never lost his cool, so it must have been serious). Nothing #metoo, just very needy and disruptive. He's owned up to that, because of his divorce.

I think his response to the recent behaviour, and accusations, and saying 'I don't want to be an Old Dog who can't learn new tricks' and speaking, personally, to the actress, says quite a bit. Murray admitting he's in the wrong is rare, and he clearly gives a crap. Even at 71, he's still pushing himself to be better.

I just personally believe that we all learn from our mistakes (and I mean jerk behaviour, not Weinstein behaviour). Considering how forthcoming Murray has been, and how open he's been, about his past mess ups, I feel he deserves a chance to prove he's learned from his mistakes.

YMMV, however, so feel free to disagree.

Tony EH · 07-05-2022 11:23pm

I don't really understand the point of all this "discussion" when we don't even know what half of these people are supposed to have done.

RabbleRouser2k · 08-05-2022 12:47am

I wonder if the firing of Fred Savage is due to allegations that surfaced during the final season of The Wonder Years, when he was a teenager?

sam t smith · 08-05-2022 1:16am

Bill Murray seems to have a long neck. Just noticed it in the picture above now can’t ‘unsee’ it when I look at any of his pictures.

08-05-2022 4:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119030492#Comment_119030492

Never heard of anything like that, where did you read it?

RabbleRouser2k · 08-05-2022 5:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119030640#Comment_119030640

It's from years ago. Tho tbf, his onscreen mom defended him and said it was frivolous.

https://deadline.com/2018/01/the-wonder-years-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-fred-savage-alley-mills-1202272295/

FunLover18 · 09-05-2022 1:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119030286#Comment_119030286

I think we are both sitting in the middle ground if still slightly apart. Your reading of his statement is more lenient than mine but as Tony EH points, it's very difficult to discuss what we don't know.

santana75 · 09-05-2022 10:16pm

I'm seeing stuff on YouTube about Jared leto apparently being a sexual predator (underage girls). Been going on for years yet he still hasn't been taken to task

RabbleRouser2k · 10-05-2022 11:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119038738#Comment_119038738

James Gunn and Cole Sprouse called him out a while back. Nothing's been done, tbh.

Won't be unless someone calls him out personally.

16-05-2022 10:35pm

Dr Strange actress Zara Phythian and husband jailed for combined 22 years for abuse of underage girl

The couple were found guilty of 14 counts of sexual activity with a child after jointly grooming the girl. Phythian has been handed an eight-year sentence, while Marke has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

https://news.sky.com/story/dr-strange-actress-zara-phythian-and-husband-jailed-for-combined-22-years-for-abuse-of-underage-girl-12614540

RabbleRouser2k · 17-05-2022 1:48am

Netflix needs to chill with the creeps.

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/nicolas-lopez-prison-sexual-abuse-1235268598/

Big Gerry · 17-05-2022 11:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119030286#Comment_119030286

I'd say Murray only owned to his bad behaviour on the advice of his PR people.

It's amazing how when people in Hollywood are accused of inappropriate behaviour they play the victim and say they need help dealing with their "problems" etc.

Harvey Weinstein also tried to play the victim when accusations against him first emerged.

RabbleRouser2k · 18-05-2022 11:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119078563#Comment_119078563

Murray is one of the few Hollywood people who doesn't have a posse or a PR crew. You have to speak directly to him, if you want to hire him. He's notorious for that.

Tony EH · 19-05-2022 1:01am

What did he do?

Hangdogroad · 19-05-2022 10:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083507#Comment_119083507

Said something.

Tony EH · 19-05-2022 2:22pm

What?

~Rebel~ · 19-05-2022 5:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085284#Comment_119085284

It's not been released.

silliussoddius · 20-05-2022 7:08pm

Richard Dreyfuss on working with Murray. His wife accused him of domestic violence during their divorce in 2008.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/what-about-bob-richard-dreyfuss-bill-murray-irish-drunken-bully-ashtray-forgive-170802085.html

pixelburp · 20-05-2022 7:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085284#Comment_119085284

Bill Murray? Apparently he said "something" in jest to a female colleague and she wasn't best pleased. There's an internal investigation and that's kind of all we know. Murray himself appeared genuinely apologetic, contrite in a recent interview, when asked what happened.

Tony EH · 20-05-2022 8:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091257#Comment_119091257

I'd still like to know what he said. In fact, I'd like to what was said from half of these cases, because without that knowledge the discussion seems kinda pointless, especially in relation to the topic's title and the particular case which sparked it off.

I'd wager what was said was pretty insignificant in most of them, in the grand scheme of things.

FunLover18 · 20-05-2022 8:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091426#Comment_119091426

Well in this instance a whole production was shut down and is still shut down afaik so I can't imagine it was insignificant but we can only speculate.

Tony EH · 20-05-2022 8:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091476#Comment_119091476

But this is the problem FL18. It could be the most outrageous thing he's ever done, or it simply have been a mickey mouse pub joke.

As for the production shutting down, it's hardly surprising. When a top name star leaves a production I would expect a shut down while a suitable replacement of is found. Assuming his part was more than just a few lines, which is what Murray is more than happy to do nowadays.

I mean, it's probably just my spidey senses tingling. But I feel that this is all just a bit of a storm in a teacup. Probably the same for the Langella incident too.

FunLover18 · 20-05-2022 8:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091499#Comment_119091499

It's Bill Murray though. He's one of the biggest names in the business, I don't think you shut down production to replace him because of something insignificant. Also AFAIK the production was just shut down, it wasn't a case of he left and they shut down. Open to correction though.

pixelburp · 20-05-2022 9:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091499#Comment_119091499

AFAIK, the production was shut down by the studio, pending an investigation. It wasn't that Murray left himself. Sounds like they're playing it safe, having an internal investigation to figure out what happened and taking action if needed. TBH the lack of detail may just be legal prudence and nothing more.

Tony EH · 20-05-2022 11:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091662#Comment_119091662

I know why the production was shut down. And yes, the whole thing sounds like the nuclear option TBH.

As for lack of detail, that's the problem with discussing any of these issues. You hear that so and so was chucked off a set for "inappropriate behaviour" and the immediate reaction is to think of the worst case scenario because of the drastic measures that are taken. But it may be nothing more than an old man joke that someone didn't find funny.

RabbleRouser2k · 21-05-2022 1:43am

Jeff Cooper, renowned Hollywood Architect and member of the Motion Picture Academy, has been found guilty of child molestation.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-05-20/jury-finds-academy-member-guilty-not-guilty-of-tk-counts-of-child-molestation

pixelburp · 21-05-2022 10:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092245#Comment_119092245

It might be, may not be, I suppose the investigation will come to its conclusion. If Murray's public comments are anything to go by it might resolve itself amicably. But yes all we can do in this specific case is report the incidents and that's it. Usually the way these things go is X gets reported and if there's any credence it's cos of known rumours or past misbehaviour. Especially if it's an older actor whose generation essentially functioned within the Casting Couch culture, codifying sexual assault as part of the industry.

It's kinda "funny" how this production is helmed by Aziz Ansari, himself having had a 15 minute window of accusations against him. Think the world moved on when it transpired to "only" be a bad date where Ansari behaved like a horny àss.

RabbleRouser2k · 21-05-2022 12:00pm

Interesting details regarding Frank Langhella's firing.

https://deadline.com/2022/05/frank-langella-fired-the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-netflix-series-details-1235029281/

Jokes that were deemed crude and offensive, and apparently the 'touching the leg' incident was during filming an intimate scene, but Langhella did something that was not planned out by the intimacy coach. So he touched his co-stars leg, during a scene, and that was deemed inappropriate.

Other things included 'smacking' the makeup artist out of the way while heading to film a scene.

It's pretty detailed. Interesting account.

JP Liz V1 · 26-05-2022 4:52pm

Kevin Spacey charged with 4 counts of sexual assault in the UK

Agent Coulson · 30-05-2022 9:56pm

Noel Clarke on Suicidal Feelings, Compares ‘Cancel Culture’ to McCarthyism: ’20 Years of Work Was Gone in 24 Hours’

U.K. film and TV star Noel Clarke has spoken up about the so-called ‘cancel culture’ and McCarthyism and revealed that he had suicidal feelings after sexual harassment allegations against him.

In an interview with U.K. tabloid Daily Mail, the first after London’s Metropolitan Police decided not to investigate the claims against him, Clarke said: “Twenty years of work was gone in 24 hours. I lost everything. The company I built from the ground up, my TV shows, my movies, my book deals, the industry respect I had. In my heart and my head it has damaged me in a way I cannot articulate.”

“There has been no arrest, no charges, no trial, no verdict but I have been criminalized,” Clarke added. “This is a form of modern McCarthyism.”

The fall was swift from April 2021, when multiple sexual misconduct allegations emerged against Clarke, best known for starring in shows such as “Doctor Who” and “Bulletproof” and the films “Kidulthood” and “Adulthood.” The allegations, first published as part of an extensive investigation by U.K. newspaper The Guardian, spanned sexual harassment, unwanted touching or groping, sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments on set, professional misconduct, taking and sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos without consent, and bullying between 2004 and 2019.

Following the allegations, the BAFTA, which had conferred an Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award to Clarke, suspended his membership and withdrew the award. The actor also lost deals with All3Media, the super-indie backers of Clarke’s production company Unstoppable Film and Television, U.K. broadcaster ITV pulled “Viewpoint,” starring Clarke, and the actor was also accused of harassment on BBC’s “Doctor Who” set years ago.

‘If we don’t need police and judges and juries any more, if we only need social media and the broadcasters, then what world do we live in?’ Clarke said. “At what point did the broadcasters in this country become the judges, juries and executioners of people? At what point did BAFTA decide they were no longer about films, but they were about judging people’s lives?

Clarke, who has always denied the allegations, is suing The Guardian and BAFTA for defamation. He told the Daily Mail that at his lowest point he was suicidal and was snapped out of it by his one-year-old son. “Up to that point, I had been waiting for the right moment to kill myself. I was out of here. Done. I didn’t care about anything. My mind was destroyed.”

In the interview, Clarke admits that he may have been “over tactile” sometimes. “I’ve been a regular dude, for sure, I flirt. Have I ever made a saucy comment? One hundred per cent. But not to the extent that it warranted the destruction of my life,” Clarke said.

“I’m not a predator. I have crossed the road to avoid walking behind women since I was 15 years old,” Clarke added.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/noel-clarke-suicidal-cancel-culture-mccarthyism-1235280991/

Tony EH · 31-05-2022 2:46am

I’m not a predator. I have crossed the road to avoid walking behind women since I was 15 years old

Well, that's just a downright weird thing to say. Especially in top of...

I’ve been a regular dude, for sure, I flirt. Have I ever made a saucy comment? One hundred per cent. But not to the extent that it warranted the destruction of my life

🤨

RabbleRouser2k · 31-05-2022 3:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119137807#Comment_119137807

Yeah.... normally I'd take the 'believe women' with a pinch of salt (we know every gender can lie)... but enough women spoke of things, from unwanted pics of his dong, to video of him being an absolute jerk to actresses.

To the point where they broke down crying (again, on video-and no, this was not part of the scene they auditioned for).

pixelburp · 31-05-2022 6:43am

Clarke accidentally points out how poor conviction rates for sexual assault charges are. He may not have any arrest, as he whines - but often that's kind of the point. It's a he-said-she-said scenario where the more powerful person has total control of the scenario, unless there's a mass of testimony and even then someone has to make a statement. While ehor wants humiliating, degrading and dehumanising incidents replayed - and interrogated?. Clarke should consider himself lucky the law leans his way, given the sheer volume of incidents against him.

Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo/sexual misconduct scandals

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