Following reports and allegations of sexual misconduct from studio executive Harvey Weinstein, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has come forward with his own experience of assault from powerful men in Hollywood.
Initially, he commented on the Weinstein scandal with the following tweet.
For anyone judging the women who stayed silent, read this for perspective. Also for anyone brushing off harassment as “boys being boys.” https://t.co/UX9xWxpn2K
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
He then went on to condemn Weinstein, saying that "What Weinstein is being accused of is criminal. What he's admitted to is unacceptable—in any industry. I applaud everybody speaking out."
While Van Der Beek, now 40, didn't name the people who assaulted/harassed him, he did say the following:
I’ve had my ass grabbed by older, powerful men, I’ve had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger...
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness & inability to blow the whistle. There’s a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
After his tweets gained traction, he clarified that the people he was talking about "99.9% of you don't know. Two were charged (by others) and punished. The other has since died."
His comments come in the wake of certain corners of the internet being judgmental about why the women who accuse men of inappropriate behavior don't come forward sooner. They also come in the wake of a Twitter thread from Terry Crews, who accused an unnamed Hollywood male of groping him, proving this isn't an exclusively female problem.
Many celebrities, including Cara Delevingne, Angelina Jolie, and Gwyneth Paltrow have come forward to accuse Weinstein in particular, but this incident has created a social media flurry of celebrities speaking out about other incidents of assault, as well. Van Der Beek may not be the last.
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This article originally appeared on MarieClaire.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
