Rita Panahi: How Harvey Weinstein was the ultimate virtue signaller
He was a seemingly progressive champion of women, a Leftist political advocate and celebrated by the elite for years. But Harvey Weinstein has been unmasked as the quintessential virtue signaller, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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Oh, how the mighty have fallen. One of the most powerful men in Hollywood, who could make or break careers and counted senators, presidents and First Ladies among his close friends, is finally behind bars.
After decades of predatory behaviour where he acted with impunity, Harvey Weinstein is in a locked unit at Bellevue hospital awaiting transfer to the notorious Rikers Island jail complex.
The Oscar winner can add “convicted rapist” to his CV after a jury found him guilty of two of the five charges he faced; the third-degree rape of Jessica Mann in 2013 and the sexual assault of Mimi Haleyi in 2006.
Mann testified that Weinstein was a “Jekyll-and-Hyde” type with deformed genitalia and a hideous stench who had urinated on her.
“The first time I saw him fully naked, I felt, I thought he was deformed and intersex,” Mann told the Manhattan Supreme Court. “He does not have testicles and it appears like he has a vagina.”
Judge James Burke will determine how long Weinstein is imprisoned with expectations he will be sentenced to somewhere between five to 25 years.
To understand the magnitude of Weinstein’s fall from grace, it’s worth remembering that he wasn’t your average movie industry mover and shaker.
He was a heavyweight like few others who had the world’s biggest stars singing his praises. Meryl Streep called him “god”, Renée Zellweger gushed about his big heart and he was feted by both the Clinton and Obama administrations.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama called Weinstein “a wonderful human being, a good friend and just a powerhouse”.
The producer not only helped raise significant funds for the Democrats but he personally donated more than $1 million, according to the Associated Press.
Weinstein’s influence and proximity to political power meant he was untouchable in the eyes of Hollywood’s cosseted elite, a morally bankrupt community where seeming good is preferable to doing good.
For years they knew of Weinstein’s predacious behaviour but, with a few notable exceptions, they chose to turn a blind eye to his rapey antics because he was powerful and could advance their careers.
These are the same folk who feel entitled to lecture the public about societal issues, standards of behaviour and who to vote for.
It should come as no surprise that an industry that celebrates a convicted child rapist like Roman Polanski could tolerate a predator in their midst.
Who can forget the Hollywood A-list rising to their feet to give Polanski a standing ovation at the 2003 Oscars despite the absence of the director who fled the US in 1978 after finding out he was likely to be jailed for drugging and anally raping a 13-year-old child.
Elements of the media were also complicit in covering up for a predator with NBC suppressing Ronan Farrow’s efforts to expose the movie mogul even after he secured an interview with a woman willing to say on camera that Weinstein had raped her.
Weinstein was the quintessential virtue signaller. For years, Weinstein portrayed himself as a progressive champion of women.
He was not only politically active in advocating for a number of Leftist causes but he also backed feminist projects and even marched with the pussyhat brigade who took to the streets in protest after Donald Trump’s election triumph.
Yes, the bigshot producer exposed as a serial sexual abuser took part in the Women’s March in January 2017.
Weinstein preyed upon women terrified of his power and his close ties to politicians. During his trial the court heard how he would use his friendships with political heavyweights, particularly the Clintons, to intimidate his victims.
Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said Weinstein made sure that women knew “how close he was to Bill Clinton”. Illuzzi said: “a person from a dairy farm in Seattle would find it intimidating because this person (Weinstein) was on the phone with Bill Clinton every other day”.
The Weinstein scandal led to the #MeToo movement and laid bare Hollywood’s ugly underbelly. But while the collective cowardice of the industry is stark, so is the courage of the victims who spoke up despite believing Weinstein to be almost invincible.
Rose McGowan, Asia Argento, Annabella Sciorra and other victims deserve praise for coming forward.
Sciorra was among the six women to testify at the trial. With their tormentor behind bars the women took to social media to express gratitude for the guilty verdicts.
Argento posted on Instagram: “Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist, two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God. Thank you to all the brave women. Thank you judge and jury in NYC.”
McGowan tweeted: “Today is a powerful day and a huge step forward in our collective healing,” and “For once he won’t be sitting comfortably. For once he will know what it’s like to have power wrapped around his neck. Today is not a referendum on #MeToo. This is taking out the trash’.’
Hallelujah.
— Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist