Hollywood (and Beyond) Harassment: December 21

Franken, Stallone, Weinstein, Gary Goddard, Larry Nassar

No fresh accusations today, but a fresh crop of updates on some regulars. 

Gary Goddard

Since actor Anthony Edwards broke his silence last month about being sexually abused as a child by Gary Goddard, more alleged victims have come forward. Goddard worked with many young actors in the 1970s, mentoring them through show business after having been a theater prodigy in his own right. The allegations, the Los Angeles Times reports, range from a hand on the thigh to molestation. 

Goddard, now 65, disputes the allegations. His publicist Sam Singer says the allegations are "full of innuendo and hearsay," and that he would "categorically deny" the accusations." He also said "if it were possible to prove a negative, Mr. Goddard would debate these 40-year-old allegations." 

Al Franken

Senator (for now) Al Franken has announced his last day in office. He'll remain in office through the end of 2017 and have his last day on January 2, 2018. 

Sylvester Stallone

A second allegation of Sylvester Stallone has been made. The alleged victim has filed a police report in Santa Monica, California, although she says the incident occurred in the 1990s, making it past the statute of limitations. 

Harvey Weinstein

Who knows an executive better than his assistant? Zelda Perkins, who worked for him in the 1990s, alleges that Weinstein tried to rape one of his employees at the 1998 Venice Film Festival. Perkins says the victim spoke to her. "She was extremely distressed. Clearly in shock," she remembers, "Didn’t want anybody else to know. Absolutely terrified of the consequences, what would happen." When Perkins confronted Weinstein, "He said nothing at all happened and he swore on the life of his wife and children which is his best get out of jail card that he used quite a lot." Perkins says she complained to a female supervisor at their company, Miramax, and got no help. She later resigned, signing a non-disclosure agreement and receiving more than $200,000 as a settlement. Of Weinstein, she says:

He put in an enormous amount of energy into humiliating men, and an enormous amount of energy into getting women to submit.

Ugh. 

Larry Nassar

Longtime doctor for the US Gymnastics team, Larry Nassar, has been sentenced to prison, but his victims are still in court. One of his most well-known victims, Olympian McKayla Moroney, signed a settlement in December of last year for $1.25 million with USA Gymnastics. 22 year-old Moroney has now filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking damages against the US Olympic Committee and Michigan State University, where Nassar worked. She is suing on the grounds of negligence, sexual harassment, and civil claims. It also names USA Gymnastics as a defendant and seeks to invalidate parts of last year's settlement agreement.

Issues

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