Susan Sarandon: Hollywood hasn’t ‘done the clean-up’ in Weinstein aftermath

‘I don’t think people talk enough about the people who facilitated the Harvey Weinsteins of the world that are still functioning that are equally responsible,’ the Oscar-winner said.

US actor Susan Sarandon says that Hollywood hasn’t ‘done the cleanup’ in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein reckoning. Picture: Getty Images

US actor Susan Sarandon says that Hollywood hasn’t ‘done the clean-up’ in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement.

Speaking at a ‘90s Con panel, Sarandon, 77, said, “I don’t think people talk enough about the people who facilitated the Harvey Weinsteins of the world that are still functioning, who are equally responsible.”

Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax, was at the nucleus of the 2017 #MeToo movement, having been accused by more than 90 women of sexual misconduct, including rape.

The former Hollywood mega-producer is currently serving multiple jail sentences for rape and sexual assault.

Sarandon’s comments came in response to actor Mira Sorvino saying that Weinstein had “stifled” her career following her 1996 Oscar win for Mighty Aphrodite. “I stopped being a viable movie actress,” Sorvino said.

Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino said Harvey Weinstein “stifled” her career. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Sarandon said that there are still powerful people in the industry who “knew when they were sending people to a hotel, who didn’t pay attention when someone complained,” and added that female sexuality remains a “mainstay of this business.”

“It’s very confusing to be, you know, a young girl and know that they’re checking on your viability according to how sexy you are,” Sarandon said.

“You know that, right? You do know that there’s something going on. They call it a chemistry thing or whatever they want to call it. But that is part of what you’re bringing to the table. Whether you like that or not, that exists.”

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon talks to journalists with demonstrators from Code Pink for Peace while rallying in support of Palestinians and to demand a cease fire in Gaza outside the Capitol Hill offices. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In November, Sarandon, a five-time Oscar nominee and one-time winner, was dropped by United Talent Agency after she spoke at a pro-Palestine rally in New York held amid the Israel-Hamas war and said, “There are a lot of people that are afraid, afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”