In the wake of many female stars and employees coming forward about Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual harassment and assault, actor Terry Crews has a story of his own experience with sexual assault in Hollywood.
The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star, 49, shared his story on social media because he wanted to let his followers know that Weinstein “is not the only perpetrator.”
“This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME…” Crews tweeted Tuesday. “My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates.”
Crews continued, “Jumping back I said What are you doing?! My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk.”
The “Expendables” star said he didn’t “kick his ass” because he thought of how the media would spin the story.
“’240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho’ would be the headline the next day,” Crews shared, adding that he wouldn’t have been able to read it because he “would have been in jail.” Instead, he and his wife left the party.
Crews says he talked to other people who had worked with the unnamed executive, and the next day the power player apologized to Crews but “never really explained why he did what he did.” Crews said he didn’t go public with his experience because he didn’t want to be “ostracized” from the business, which he described as something that would be “par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence.”
“I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go,” he tweeted. “Who’s going 2 believe you? ( few) What r the repercussions?(many) Do u want 2 work again? (Yes) R you prepared 2b ostracized?(No).”
Crews wrote he hoped his story would “deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless.”
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NicholasCajun on October 10th, 2017 at 22:26 UTC »
For those asking why he didn't name the executive:
Unless Crews has proof it happened (such as other witnesses besides his wife that are willing to testify), the executive would have grounds to fight the claim as libel and to sue Crews.
The New York Times' reporting on Harvey Weinstein was different since they had found evidence of settlements made with accusers, as well as various documents, emails, etc. spanning decades that corroborated the picture being painted by those that the NYT interviewed. Organizations like the NYT can conduct investigations and collect evidence, but individuals like Crews (and other victims) are not in a position to build that sort of evidence pile.
trumpicana03 on October 10th, 2017 at 22:08 UTC »
If this happened to Terry Crews in front of his wife then no one in hollywood is safe including the children.
Guybromandudeperson on October 10th, 2017 at 21:40 UTC »
Damn. Really shows you it can happen to anyone. No one should ever jump to conclusions, but I do hope all these people speaking out starts a trend that'll cause more people to come forward and relieve some fear for the victims