Hollywood hypocrisy: Why aren’t we talking about Casey Affleck’s abuse scandal?

The Golden Globes glitterati united in outrage over “psychopathic billionaires”. But where is the same condemnation when it comes to alleged abusers amongst their own?

This is meant to be Casey Affleck’s moment.

The 41-year-old baby brother of Batman Ben has long been the underdog. While he gained some acclaim for his turn in Gone Baby Gone, his career has mainly been made up of bit parts in films including Good Will Hunting, American Pie and the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy.

Now he is predicted to win the Academy Award for best actor in Kenneth Lonergan’s powerful family drama Manchester By The Sea.

But the spotlight has renewed attention into allegations he sexually harassed two women.

Even Affleck has seemingly referenced the claims.

During his Golden Globes acceptance speech yesterday, Affleck thanked his children, saying: “It’s my kids who give me permission to do this because they have the character to keep at bay all the noise that sometimes surrounds people who live publicly.”

This “noise”, it turns out, involved two women suing Affleck in the Los Angeles Superior Court for $2 million and $2.5 million each. The cases were settled by Affleck outside of court. His accusers worked with him on the panned mockumentary I’m Still Here in 2010, which starred Affleck’s then brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix.

Casey Affleck is well on his way to winning the Oscar, despite the “noise” of his alleged sexual harassment scandal. (Pic: AFP/Robyn Beck)

Producer Amanda White claimed she was subjected to repeated harassment and physical intimidation from Affleck, including one incident when Affleck allegedly ordered a crew member to show White his penis, despite her objection. She claimed Affleck bragged openly about his sexual encounters and told her she should get pregnant with a crew member.

She also alleged that during filming she was prevented from returning to her bedroom, because Affleck and Phoenix were having sex with two women in there. White also claimed Affleck tried to coerce her into sharing a hotel room with him and when she protested claimed he grabbed her and attempted to scare her into submission. She said he then allegedly sent her abusive text messages for refusing to spend the night with him.

The film’s director of photography Magdalena Gorka alleged similar harassment. In her complaint, she described Affleck’s treatment of her as “the most traumatising of her career.”

Gorka claimed Affleck openly discussed engaging in sexual activities with her, and jokingly suggested that she have sex with the camera assistant. She also alleged that during filming she woke in the night to find Affleck lying in bed next to her wearing only his underwear and a T-shirt. He was allegedly hugging her and caressing her back. When she ordered Affleck out she claimed he reacted angrily.

She alleged that for the next few months of filming Affleck encouraged crew members to subject her to a daily barrage of sexual harassment and unwanted advances.

Birth of a Nation’s Nate Parker’s Oscar hopes were thoroughly extinguished after his past sexual abuse allegations came to light. (Pic: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

Bill Cosby will be on trial this year after a series of sexual abuse allegations were levelled against him. (Pic: Supplied)

It’s bad enough that Room star and Golden Globe winner Brie Larson (an advocate against sexual abuse) had to hand Affleck his award yesterday. But it’s even more discouraging that two senior women in the film industry have had their sexual harassment allegations brushed under the red carpet.

So why are we ignoring Affleck’s sexual harassment allegations? Why doesn’t Hollywood acknowledge the reputed misdemeanours?

Because of course they won’t.

It seems Hollywood picks and chooses when to denounce (Bill Cosby, Nate Parker) and ignore (Johnny Depp, Michael Fassbender, Christian Bale, Woody Allen) abuse allegations.

Even director Roman Polanski is protected by the teflon curtain of showbiz.

Despite being charged in 1977 with five offences, including raping, drugging and sodomising a 13-year-old girl, Polanski, who was convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and then fled the US to escape jail time, received an Oscar for best director in 2003.

“I know it wasn’t rape-rape,” Whoopi Goldberg said in his defence.

Roman Polanski received an Oscar for best director despite being convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. (Pic: Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

It is this Trump-mocking, entitled elite who believe they reside above normal moral and criminal accountability and with their Hollywood privilege cover up and ultimately condone misconduct.

Fuelled by French champagne and self-importance, the Golden Globes glitterati united in tittering outrage over the supposed abuses of power of “psychopathic billionaires”.

But where is the same condemnation and commitment to truth when it comes to alleged abusers within their own ranks?

Lucy Carne is editor of RendezView