Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Pandora's Box ~ Part 2

Renee Zellweger's Comments re Sexual Harrassment
The women who have spoken about their abuse are brave and heroic and although I didn't have a personal experience like this in multiple films with Harvey Weinstein, I unfortunately cannot say I'm surprised. This culture has always existed, not just in Hollywood, but across the world. And many men in positions of power have gotten away with it for far too long. We cannot blame the victims here.

A lot of these women are young ~ just starting out in their respective fields, and have absolutely no way to stand up to a man with so much influence, much greater than theirs. If they speak up, they are shut down...and that could be the end of their career.
This is all a positive step forward in changing that culture...
and these young women need to know that they have a 'support system'
should anything like this happen to them.”

Former NFL, CFL star Moon Denies Sexual Harassment Claims, writes Adam Kilgore, published in The Washington Post. “Famed quarterback, Warren Moon denied claims made against him in a lawsuit by a California woman who worked at the sports marketing agency he led, according to a statement released by a lawyer representing him. The lawsuit, filed in California by Moon's executive assistant at Sport 1 Marketing, alleged that Moon required the plaintiff, Wendy Haskell, to wear thong underwear and sleep in his bed on work trips, among other accusations.” Mr. Moon contends these claims are meritlesss and he has every intention to vigorously defend himself in court.”
Moon, 61, had served as an analyst on the Seattle Seahawks' radio network.
Moon requested and received a 'temporary' leave of absence from the network.
Moon hired Haskell, 32, in July. She frequently travelled with Moon for speaking engagements, charity events and other meetings, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Moon committed sexual battery by grabbing Haskell's crotch during a trip to Seattle this year. The suit also accuses Moon of pulling off the woman's bathing suit after slipping a drug into her drink during a separate trip to Mexico in October. Moon insisted she would lose her job if she did not comply...and that his former assistant 'accepted the same arrangement,' the lawsuit claims.

Moon retired after a 17-year NFL career in 2001 as one of the most prolific passers in league history after winning 5 Grey Cups and 2 Grey Cup MVP awards with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. Though he won the 1989 Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his charity and on-field excellence, his career was also pockmarked with scandals involving women.
In May, 1995, a Vikings cheerleader sued Moon and accused him of sexual harassment,
alleging that he offered her cash for sex. The case was settled out-of-court within days.

Metropolitan Conductor Denies Sex Allegations: “James Levine denied allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. In a statement to The New York Times, Levine called the accusations unfounded and stated that anyone who truly know him will attest that he is not an oppressor or an aggressor. The opera suspended Levine on Sunday after the Times published accounts from 3 of the accusers who say Levine sexually abused them when they were teenagers. A 4th accuser later came forward. The conductor says he wants to continue working at the Met ~ and that his fervent hope is that, in time, people will come to understand the truth.”

NYC Ballet Chief Accused of Harassment Takes Leave: Peter Martins, the influential leader of the New York City Ballet for 3 decades, has taken a 'leave of absence' pending an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. The company confirmed that 71-year-old Martins was granted a temporary leave from the company and the affiliated School of American Ballet until an independent investigation concluded...following an anonymous letter accusing Martins of past sexual harassment. The Washington Post reported that a former City Ballet dancer, Kelly Boal, had accused Martins of grabbing and shaking her in a violent way during a 1989 confrontation.

'X-Men' Director, Accused of Sexual Assault in Lawsuit: Bryan Singer, who directed “Superman Returns” and several “X-Men movies , was accused in a lawsuit Thursday of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy at a party more than a decade ago. In the lawsuit, Cesar Sanchez-Guzman said he met Singer for the first time at the the 2003 party, which took place on a yacht in Seattle, when he offered to give him a tour of the boat. While showing him the Master Bedroom, according to the lawsuit, Singer shut the door behind him and demanded sex from Sanchez-Guzman. After he refused, the lawsuit says, Singer pushed him on the bed and sexually assaulted him.
(Tis said, Taking risks is OK ~ but you must be prudent!)

Later, Bryan Singer approached Cesar and told him that he was a producer in Hollywood and that he could help Cesar get into acting as long as Cesar never said anything about the incident. He then told Cesar that no one would believe him if he ever reported it...and that he could hire people who are capable of ruining someone's reputation. Singer, categorically denies these allegations.
Singer was fired in recent days from directing 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
In 2014, another man, Michael Egan, accused Singer of drugging him
when he was a minor in1999. Egan, later dropped the lawsuit.
(the foregoing 3 incidents were reported through “Wire Services”)

Charlie Sheen Sues Tabloid Over Assault Allegations: Charlie Sheen is suing the National Enquirer, saying that the magizine defamed him by alleging he sexually assaulted teen actor Corey Haim. In papers filed Friday in Los Angeles, Sheen called the tabloids allegations ridiculous and disgusting.
The Enquirer's November 8th edition includes a quote from actor Dominick Brascia, saying he was in his mid-teens and Sheen around 20, Sheen and Haim (who died in 2010), both appeared in the 1986 release “Lucas.” Brascia told the Enquirer that the assault came during the film's production. Sheen is seeking unspecified damages. (Published December 12 by News Services)

Maura Judkis and Emily Heil wrote December 12th that celebrity chef, Mario Batali has taken leave from his restaurants and co-hosting duties on ABC's “The Chew” after the website 'Eater' reported Monday that 4 women, all unnamed, have accused Batali of sexual harassment. One woman described 2 instances where Batali made inappropriate and unwelcome physical contact witrh her, while the others alleged that Batali groped their breasts and buttocks at industry parties. Three of them worked for him, while the fourth works in the industry.
Batali has stepped away from operations of his empire of 26 restaurants
worldwide which he co-owns with restauranteur Joe Bastianich.
He apologized in a statement to Eater saying, “I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt. Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories, have not been revealed to me, much of the behaviour described, does in fact.”
The Food Network has stated, “Matters like this we take very seriously
and we are putting relaunch plans for 'Molto Mario' on hold.
News reports over the years show that his restaurants, were a place where sexual comments and behaviour went unpunished. Employees at Babbo, Batali's Italian restaurant in New York, have been the source of several complaints.

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 12, 2017

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