Meryl Streep & Other Actresses Speak Out Against Harvey Weinstein After Firing From The Weinstein Co.

In the wake of the exposé on Harvey Weinstein, the producer has been fired, and many actresses are now speaking out against him.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN FIRED

Weinstein was fired from the film production company he founded, The Weinstein Company, following the New York Times exposé with information on decades of sexual harassment by the producer.

Meryl Streep is leading the charge in speaking out about Weinstein and sexual harassment in the film industry. “The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported,” Streep told the Huffington Post. “The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes,” she said. “One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally. I didn’t know about these other offenses: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. And If everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it,” the actress continued. “The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”

Streep won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2012 for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the Weinstein Co. release The Iron Lady. She was also nominated for August: Osage County in 2013, which was produced by Weinstein.

Julianne Moore added her voice to the conversation on Monday. “Coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so,” she said in two tweets. “But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others.”

Patricia Arquette and Judi Dench spoke out as well. “If there is a way to cure yourself of being a predator than I hope harvey learns what it is & shares it with the world. It’s an epidemic,” Arquette tweeted. “Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying,” Dench said in a statement. “I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out.”

Actress Rose McGowan, who was mentioned in the Times story, but not quoted, spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about the issue. “I’m calling on the board [of the Weinstein Co.] to resign effective immediately,” she said. “And for other men to stop other when they are being disgusting… Men in Hollywood need to change ASAP. Hollywood’s power is dying because society has change and grown, and yet Hollywood male behavior has not,” she said. “It is so not a good look. In the way cooler than Hollywood world I live and work in, I am actually embarrassed to be associated with it.”

“I salute you #jodikantor #megantwohey & @nyt editor thank you for your incredible work. You’ve saved lives with your bravery,” she added on Twitter.

Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo also tweeted responses to the exposé. “Huge respect for @AshleyJudd and all the women who broke their silence for the article on Harvey Weinstein. Brave,” Sarandon wrote. “To be clear what Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power and horrible. I hope we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses,” added Ruffalo.