Heather Graham says it’s “exciting” to watch Harvey Weinstein “not get away with” sexual abuse allegations
Actor Heather Graham has claimed it is “exciting” to watch Harvey Weinstein “not get away with” his actions as he is retried for prolific sexual abuse allegations.
Graham reflected on the heights of her career in an interview with The Guardian, in which she discussed her new film Chosen Family, which she directs and stars in, noting the struggles that many women in Hollywood face both on and off screen.
In the actor’s case, Weinstein’s abuse became prominent as she rose to fame in the late 1990s as a love interest figure in films like Boogie Nights. She recalled being approached by the disgraced filmmaker on numerous occasions for obvious sexual advances, which she declined, leading to her being cut off from some of Hollywood’s inner circles.
However, the tides then turned when the #MeToo movement took flight in 2017, leading to Weinstein being convicted of numerous counts of sexual assault. “It felt so exciting to see this powerful guy not get away with it,” Graham said. “Because, from my whole career, people would be like: ‘Just don’t put yourself in that situation, otherwise it’s your fault.’”
She added: “There was victim shaming, like: ‘You shouldn’t have gone to his hotel room.’” Despite this, the actor also noted that the film industry remains heavily male-dominated, with “Most movies [being] financed based on a male actor attaching themselves,” she revealed.
Graham continued: “If it’s not a male-driven story – if the guy’s not this hero, like killing all these people and saving everyone’s lives – it’s sometimes harder to get men to attach. Every independent movie is like: ‘Get the most famous actor you can for no money. And I hope it’s a man.’ If it’s a woman, you need two.”
Weinstein is currently in jail having been found guilty of a separate case of rape in California in 2022, but is facing retrial for his 2020 New York conviction after his charges were overturned. He is being re-tried as he was found not to have a fair case due to women who testified not forming part of the claims at the time. He has pleaded not guilty in the new case.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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