16th November 2017: Terry Crews Has Named His Alleged Sexual Attacker
Actor Terry Crews gave an exclusive interview with Good Morning America detailing the full experience of allegedly being groped, his silence and eventual public allegation.
At the beginning of his interview Crews confirmed that Adam Venit is who he is taking legal action against.
He then goes on to passionately detail the alleged assault, how he held back and, how he came to come forward with his story after working with other victims of abuse and trying to teach his kids how to be open about these sorts of issues.
Watch the full interview below:
10th November 2017: Terry Crews Is Now Suing The Hollywood Executive Who Allegedly Groped Him
Just a month after Terry emerged with his brave Twitter thread on his own sexual assault it is being reported he is suing a Hollywood executive.
TMZ has footage of Crews leaving a police station and confirming that he has filed a report. When asked why, he responds, 'People have to be held accountable.'
The cameraman then asks the actor whether he will be filing a lawsuit, to which he responds, 'Yeah, we're going all the way.' Though he refrains to disclosing the amount he will be suing for.
The news site reports that sources have told them that Crews has filed a report and lawsuit against Adam Venit, the head of the motion pictures department at William Morris Endeavor (WME), one of Hollywood's top talent agencies.
Earlier this month The Hollywood Reporter reported that Venit had been suspended from his position after Crews' initial Tweets.
11th October 2017: Why We Should All Applaud Terry Crews' Admission That He Was Sexually Assaulted
After the amazing investigative work of Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey and the bravery of all the women who spoke out about Harvey Weintein's alleged sexual abuse, there was the inevitable sexist fall-out, 'Why didn't they say anything sooner? Why did some of them settle out of court?'
These unfortunate comments were bound to circulate, but heck, this one of the big reasons why people often don't report sexual assault - they will not be believed and they will be blamed in some way in the process.
One of the people who knew these feelings all too well was actor Terry Crews.
The 6' 2" tall, 17 stone actor, who you will have seen in White Chicks, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and more, made the powerful admission that he had once been assaulted by a Hollywood powerhouse himself.
In a series of Tweets Crews explained how 'high level Hollywood executive' approached him and groped his genitals.
Despite Crews being more-than capable of physically matching this person, and with the added witness of his wife, he did not physically protect himself, nor did he go fully public with what happened.
He explained, 'I decided not to take it further, because I didn't want to be ostracised - par for the course when the predator has power and influence. I let it go, and I understand why many women who this happens to let it go.'
He spells out the reason for his silence, 'Who's going to believe you? (Few) What are the repercussions? (Many) Do you want to work again? (Yes) Are you prepared to be ostracised? (No)'
He concludes, 'I understand and empathise with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator.Hollywood is not the only business where this happens, and to the casualties of this behaviour— you are not alone. Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless.'
The response to this thread has been overwhelming, with people screen-grabbing its entirety and reposting it all over Twitter.
That this could happen to an established, male and physically strong actor, proves that it could happen to anyone, and does.
Though sometimes it may be annoying that a man making a point can sometimes be heard a little louder, this thread shines a clear light on how abuse of power works. Letting your harasser walk away is not a sign of weakness, its a sign of their effectiveness in fear, power hierarchy and manipulation.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
