James Van Der Beek Has Spoken Out Against The “Older, Powerful Men” Who Sexually Harassed Him
"I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness and inability to blow the whistle."
More and more actors are coming forward with stories of sexual assault and harassment, as Hollywood continues to face the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
It’s been a little over a week since The New York Times published decades’ worth of sexual misconduct allegations against the movie mogul. Since then, a number of other women have also come forward to accuse Weinstein of inappropriate behaviour, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Lea Seydoux and Cara Delevingne.
But although Weinstein is finally being named and shamed, we are increasingly hearing that he is far from the only alleged offender. Earlier this week, actor Terry Crews revealed that he too had been sexually assaulted by “a high-level Hollywood executive”. Now James Van Der Beek has come forward to make allegations of his own
The ex-Dawson’s Creek star took to Twitter on Thursday to applaud Harvey Weinstein’s victims for finding the courage to speak out, before sharing his own experiences with sexual harassment and assault.
“I’ve had my ass grabbed by older, powerful men,” he wrote. “I’ve had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger.”
“I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness and inability to blow the whistle. There’s a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome.”
What Weinstein is being accused of is criminal. What he’s admitted to is unacceptable – in any industry. I applaud everybody speaking out.
— 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
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
The actor since clarified that the men who allegedly harassed him were eventually charged, after his remarks led to some “wrongful speculation.”
FTR, the harassment I tweeted about was by people 99.9% of you don’t know. 2 were charged (by others) & punished. The other has since died.
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
So apologies to any mentors & champions and wonderful friends I’ve made in this industry who may have been pulled into wrongful speculation.
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
I realize I left a door open by not initially naming, but please don’t impugn innocent people w/out cause. That’s not fair. Or right.
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017
The actors comments give further credence to Crews’ insistence that “Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator.”