#MeToo: sexual harassment, assault victims speak up

THOUSANDS — including high-profile actors — have taken to social media to raise awareness about just how widespread sexual harassment and assault are.

Debra Messing, at her star ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this month, has taken a stand against sexual harassment and assault.

THE words “me too” are trending on social media to raise awareness about just how widespread sexual harassment and assault are.

The accusations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein have opened up a wider global discussion about just how endemic sexual harassment is the world over — not just in Hollywood.

Actor Alyssa Milano has kickstarted a trend on social media to highlight just how widespread sexual harassment is.

Actor Alyssa Milano, who starred in Charmed with Rose McGowan — one of Weinsten’s accusers — appears to have started the #MeToo trend with her post asking people to reply with the words “me too”.

If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/k2oeCiUf9n

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2017

Thousands of women and some men have replied to the tweet and the post quickly went viral on Facebook.

Anna Paquin was one of the first high-profile actors to respond.

High-profile actors — including X-Men star Anna Paquin and Debra Messing from Will & Grace — were among the first to reply that they had also been victims. Some men also replied, including Broadway star Javier Munoz, who said that he had been targeted “multiple times”.

Me too

— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) October 15, 2017

Me too https://t.co/ScX67Kmmiy

— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) October 15, 2017

Me too. I don’t know if means anything coming from a gay man but it’s happened. Multiple times.

— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) October 15, 2017

In Britain, Labour MP Stella Creasey caused another Twitter user to describe her as “crazy” to admit it when she tweeted the words.

Her response was simple: “Not ‘admitting’ anything. Saying I’ve been harassed like millions of women (and) girls all around the world. Shame is on the attackers, not me.”

The trend was not just confined to celebrities — thousands of women have taken to social media to take a stand against harassment and assault.

To every man "shocked" by all of us posting #MeToo -

We've been telling you for years.
You didn't want to listen.

Do you hear us now?

— Kelli Butler (@TheOperaGeek) October 16, 2017

Women have been told, not to make waves, it won't make a dif. if you speak out, I will no longer remain silent#Womenwhoroar#MeToo

— Amanda W (@amandawragg2) October 15, 2017

Think you'd have a harder time finding a woman who *hasn't* been harrassed/assaulted/inappropriately treated.#MeToo

— Marie Gardiner (@MarieGardiner) October 15, 2017

This is how we roared today: we spoke our truth. @Twitter this is power of women.
STOP online harassment or lose us!#WomenWhoRoar #MeToo

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) October 15, 2017