Hollywood "Casting Couch" Upheaval

[alarson]

I guess if I was told I had to suck a guy off or forever be ruined in the industry I was currently in, I'd hit the road. I was asked to do some sketchy things with money by a manager as a teenager and told him no and if he asked again I'd walk. Not that I approve of what anyone did, just stating the fact that you always have the option to walk, just like buying a car. I understand that some people don't feel they have that option, what I don't understand is why they feel that way. I guess they wanted to be in that industry that bad? I just don't get it myself.

I mean, its understandable. Millions of people dream of being famous. A large number of those have enough talent to handle a role. But there's only so many spots and its completely subjective. Would you trade an hour (or less) of something you don't enjoy for your dream? Especially if that dream could lead to an extremely lucrative career? Maybe you wouldnt, but a lot of people would. Now its obviously wrong for the person with the power to be exploiting their position to make that 'offer' but its easy to understand why it works and why many would accept.

Hell, there are probably some very famous people who are on the other side of this- people who paid that 'price' and moved their way up through the ranks to fame

 

[cyrocksmypants]

On a side note, this whole Kevin Spacey thing has shown me that a lot of the population don’t actually know what pedophilia is. There’s a LOT of sick and wrong and disgusting things about the story, but trying to sleep with a 14 year old isn’t, by definition, pedophilia.

No matter how I worded that it makes it sound like I’m defending pedophiles. I’m not. Just like with discussing any other mental disorders, I think it’s important that the public actually understands what they are and properly defines them.

 

[SCyclone]

I recently read an article about the Bryan Singer accusations (and yes, it's pretty messy) which contained the phrase "it's a long, time-honored tradition in Hollywood". This struck me as particularly distasteful, as it addresses sexual predation as something to be expected, if not admired.

For me, this lid coming off Pandora's Box is not only welcome, but heartening. As a father of 5 daughters, the idea that one of my girls would or could be sexually used by someone in power makes my blood boil. It's long past time that the media and entertainment businesses stopped requiring women to be smoking hot, and looked more at their (real) qualifications.

I have no doubt that these accusations will continue. There is strength in numbers. My only regret is that these people who have ruined the lives of others will never know their victims' shame, and fear, and self-loathing.

 

[Angie]

I don't think much about it because I think most knew this was happening and chose to ignore it. It was well known so now it's kind of the outrage flavor of the week. Not condoning it, just saying the perception was always there. The phrase sleeping your way to the top is there for a reason.

What I think is stupid is people being overly punished based off incidents that happened over 30 years ago. I'm sure some continued to do it throughout the years, but it's weak to ruin a life based off something that happened when they were a totally different person in a different cultural time. I wouldn't want people hearing the language I used in college even 10 years ago.

I totally get what you're saying. But saying bad things is way different than rape. Weinstein allegedly raped. Cosby allegedly raped. Singer allegedly raped. That's not something that becomes okay with the passing of time - the victims never move beyond that violation, even if the predator does.

The sexual harassment allegations are maybe more what you mean? There are recent allegations against George HW Bush, even. I think the thing with so many of these people in positions of unchecked power is that there is just a sense of entitlement that they never outgrew. YOU outgrew who you were 10 years ago as part of life and the normal maturation process. If you're making millions of dollars at age 25, you don't HAVE to check your impulses like a normal person. So why would you ever outgrow them?

 

[Triggermv]

If this is what comes with power, I'm glad I don't have any.

 

[jcyclonee]

The situation with Harvey Weinstein has had a huge fallout in Hollywood over the past few days (and it's arguable that it likely partially came out because of the Bill Cosby rapes).

It started a few days ago with Kevin Spacey: https://www.thedailybeast.com/second-spacey-allegation-rocks-london-theaterland-hotline-opened

It looks like there are additional allegations against Brett Ratner (producer of The Revenant), Jeremy Piven (that one really didn't surprise me), and Dustin freaking Hoffman: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/h...ccused-sexual-misconduct-second-actor-n816336

I'm curious how this non-political story (and it will remain that way here) strikes others, men in particular. Does it seem like people pandering for attention? Do you believe the allegations before additional proof comes out? How do you react to sexual harassment/assault stories? How are you reacting to the current ones?

I am actually surprised by the Jeremy Piven thing. I know a guy that was his roommate at Drake and he said Jeremy Piven was a really good guy. The guy I work with is a straight arrow, too.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

What gets me about all this is so many people knew and just looked the other way. There was a reason Seth MacFarlane made that Weinstein comment at the Academy Awards yet they just took it in stride. There was a reason he made that scene years ago with Stewie running into a mall naked shouting that he had just escaped Kevin Spacey's basement.
It was all right there in the open, Hollywood's dirty secret that they all just accepted. This guy joked about it years ago and now Hollywood acts surprised and offended.

 

[dmclone]

Very little out of Hollywood surprises me.

 

[Angie]

I am actually surprised by the Jeremy Piven thing. I know a guy that was his roommate at Drake and he said Jeremy Piven was a really good guy. The guy I work with is a straight arrow, too.

Oh, wow - everything I've heard about him is just that he's a turd and full of himself.

https://www.elitedaily.com/entertai...ything-like-his-character-in-real-life/638927

http://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_a...-is-a-douche-in-a-totally-unexpected-way-.php

 

[Tri4Cy]

This all really started to blow up decades ago with Corey Feldman. Nobody believed him. There are rumored sex parties in all sorts of powerful circles. The two big areas I've read about are Hollywood and politicians. Think even Eye Wide Shut level stuff. I recently read up and listened to some podcasts around the Johnny Gosch case in DSM. This stuff just blows my mind. From what I've read, and you here more about in the recent allegations, are these people who have the power to essentially control your future, manipulate these young people and take advantage of them for their pleasure. "You want a future in this industry, then you have to do X." I remember a recent interview with Feldman I believe that was talking about how prevalent this was in Hollywood and it was a dark secret that is kept there because everyone just knows that's how it is. If you're the first to speak out, you will be excommunicated and will likely never work again.

 

[dmclone]

On a side note, this whole Kevin Spacey thing has shown me that a lot of the population don’t actually know what pedophilia is. There’s a LOT of sick and wrong and disgusting things about the story, but trying to sleep with a 14 year old isn’t, by definition, pedophilia.

OK, I'll admit that I assume Kevin Spacey is a pedophile.

#1 He tried to sleep with a 14 year old. I assume this means he is attracted to young boys.

Wiki says
Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescentchildren.

So why is he not a pedophile? Who decides whether someone is a pedophile? Can you be attracted to 14 year old boys without having a mental issue? Why does it matter whether people call him a pedophile?

 

[Stewo]

OK, I'll admit that I assume Kevin Spacey is a pedophile.

#1 He tried to sleep with a 14 year old. I assume this means he is attracted to young boys.

Wiki says
Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescentchildren.

So why is he not a pedophile? Who decides whether someone is a pedophile? Can you be attracted to 14 year old boys without having a mental issue? Why does it matter whether people call him a pedophile?

Yeah, never have I had the urge/desire to sleep with a child. Why? Because I'm not a pedophile. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

 

[jcyclonee]

Oh, wow - everything I've heard about him is just that he's a turd and full of himself.

https://www.elitedaily.com/entertai...ything-like-his-character-in-real-life/638927

http://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_a...-is-a-douche-in-a-totally-unexpected-way-.php

He could have become full of himself because of the fame. Also, I wouldn't doubt the guy I know is just being very careful about what he says about anybody. However, it's been brought up several times (one time involving a few beers) and he's never said anything different. To be honest, I choose to believe Piven is a douche because he seems like a douche.

 

[MeowingCows]

OK, I'll admit that I assume Kevin Spacey is a pedophile.

#1 He tried to sleep with a 14 year old. I assume this means he is attracted to young boys.

Wiki says
Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescentchildren.

So why is he not a pedophile? Who decides whether someone is a pedophile? Can you be attracted to 14 year old boys without having a mental issue? Why does it matter whether people call him a pedophile?

Your key term here is "prepubescent". At the point of puberty, the definition of 'pedophile' is no longer accurate. 14 is right on that puberty/pre-puberty border, I'd say leaning more to the puberty side. We have no evidence currently to believe he's into kids younger than that (he may or may not be -- we simply don't know right now).

And, yes, that's entirely a technicality based on definition. There's a differently-named disorder for attraction generally to kids in the mid-teens range that I can't presently remember.

 

[Tedcyclone]

I most certainly believe it is happening on that large of scale and larger. Ive said my entire adult life you cant be around a room full of women or men, have "sex" fake or not, kiss, hug, live around, drink with, for months to years filming, travel, away from your family, and everything be okay. Thats a toxic environment. By toxic I mean its leading to, on the first level being unfaithful etc. On the second level when everyone is going along with it, it becomes a drug. Then you start taking when you shouldn't, and even if others say no.

Money seems to be the biggest reason the victims don't always come forward right away. Fear of losing what they have or can have. And I think thats a real fear.

As a man it bothers me because I have a wife, and 2 daughters. Just another damn thing to worry about. Child actors have had it rough for a long time. Gross.

 

[weR138]

This all really started to blow up decades ago with Corey Feldman. Nobody believed him.

I'll believe him when he starts naming names.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

OK, I'll admit that I assume Kevin Spacey is a pedophile.

#1 He tried to sleep with a 14 year old. I assume this means he is attracted to young boys.

Wiki says
Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescentchildren.

So why is he not a pedophile? Who decides whether someone is a pedophile? Can you be attracted to 14 year old boys without having a mental issue? Why does it matter whether people call him a pedophile?

14 is no longer prepubescent. He’d be considered a hebephile. While still most definitely wrong, there’s a VASTLY large difference between being attracted to an 5 year old than being attracted to someone that’s already developing physically toward an adult. And even being a hebephile may be up in the air, as to be clinically determined to be one (or a pedeohile for that matter) one must show strong urges of it for at least 6 months. All we can definitively say is he’s a disgusting creep.

Again, I’m not defending his actions or the actions of those that fit in these categories, I’m simply saying it’s important to know the differences in mental disorders.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.co...nd-ephebophiles-oh-my-erotic-age-orientation/

There’s a pretty good article on it. There’s also an interesting documentary on Netflix about it.

 

[weR138]

What gets me about all this is so many people knew and just looked the other way. There was a reason Seth MacFarlane made that Weinstein comment at the Academy Awards yet they just took it in stride. There was a reason he made that scene years ago with Stewie running into a mall naked shouting that he had just escaped Kevin Spacey's basement.
It was all right there in the open, Hollywood's dirty secret that they all just accepted. This guy joked about it years ago and now Hollywood acts surprised and offended.

What's really disgusting are the people I've heard criticize MacFarlane for it. When a community lets a predator like Weinstein run a studio and go unchecked they are, in fact, a joke.

 

[CloneIce]

OK, I'll admit that I assume Kevin Spacey is a pedophile.

#1 He tried to sleep with a 14 year old. I assume this means he is attracted to young boys.

Wiki says
Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescentchildren.

So why is he not a pedophile? Who decides whether someone is a pedophile? Can you be attracted to 14 year old boys without having a mental issue? Why does it matter whether people call him a pedophile?

Its because a 14 year old is assumed to have gone through puberty. The pedophiles are attracted and prey on prebuscent children. It is a different mental issue and crime.

 

[CloneIce]

Yeah, never have I had the urge/desire to sleep with a child. Why? Because I'm not a pedophile. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

I bet when you were 15, you had a desire to hook up with 14 year old women that had gone through puberty. That would be normal. But if you were 15 and wanted 8 year olds, that would be very messed up. There is a real difference here.