Rose McGowan calls on Hollywood to be brave
Rose McGowan has urged Hollywood to "be brave".
The 43-year-old actress claimed last week she had been raped by a studio executive, an incident she said was an "open secret" in the film industry, and has now called on those in power to "take a stand" and stop working with "predators" and "rewarding sociopaths", though she didn’t directly address her own ordeal.
In an open letter shared in a Twitter post that began "Dear Hollywood…", Rose wrote: "To the women and men in the entertainment industry who know exactly whom and what I am talking about.
"Do not work with those you know to be offenders or you are no better than they. Take a stand.
"You are culpable for your actions. Stop rewarding sociopaths. Every time you sanction abhorrent behavior, you are aiding and abetting a crime, that makes you no better than the criminal.
"How many more stories do you have to hear before you do the right thing and stop rewarding men that are predators?"
The ‘Charmed’ star branded those who continue to work with such people as "cowards" and urged them to think about their own "personal legacy" and take a moral stand.
She added: "Why are you so cowardly that you would take the softer, easier way out?
"I can tell you this, your soul is a blighted one if you do so. Your personal legacy, the very fabric of your being, is at stake, so fight for it. I know you have it in you to be better. I know you have it in you to break free from the bonds of secrecy. So do it."
Rose revealed her rape ordeal on Twitter last week as she shared her contribution to the trending hashtag "#WhyWomenDontReport".
In a series of tweets, she wrote: "a (female) criminal attorney said because I’d done a sex scene in a film I would never win against the studio head. #WhyWomenDontReport
"because it’s been an open secret in Hollywood/Media & they shamed me while adulating my rapist. #WhyWomenDontReport
"Because my ex sold our movie to my rapist for distribution #WhyWomenDontReport
"It is time for some goddamned honesty in this world. (sic)"
The hashtag was designed to create awareness as to why women don’t always report rape cases, and was originated out of the backlash received after continuing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour and comments made by US Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
