Latest news with ##MeTooMovement
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Director James Toback On The Hook For $1.68 Billion In Sexual Assault Lawsuit By 40 Women
The Harvey Weinstein effect continues with James Toback joining the list of Hollywood veterans going down in flames for allegedly assaulting and harassing women in the industry. The film director recently received a partial default judgment, resulting in a billion-dollar loss over his alleged crimes. Forty women accused Toback of sexual assault, psychological abuse, false imprisonment, and coercion. The allegations against James Toback were similar to the accusations against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, whose downfall sparked the #MeToo Movement. One of the director's accusers is Jenn DeLeo, who made waves in 2023 for slamming her husband with physical abuse claims. The legal drama between Toback and his accusers recently concluded when a New York jury awarded $1.68 billion to 40 alleged victims. These women received $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages. Toback's downfall began in October 2017 when over 30 women accused him of decades-long sexual harassment. His troubles continued in 2022 when dozens of women sued him for manipulating them. They claimed he coerced them into meetings they believed were job interviews. However, these meetings allegedly turned sexual. Toback initially attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed last year, but a judge denied his request. Surprisingly, the director stepped back and was not represented when the case went to trial this month, nor did he appear in court. His absence resulted in a partial default judgment, per TMZ. When the allegations against Toback first surfaced in 2017, the director vehemently denied the allegations. He argued that he only had brief encounters with the women or never met them. Additionally, he stressed that he was medically incapable of such alleged actions, citing diabetes and a heart condition. Toback's accusers include stars like Julianne Moore, Natalie Morales, Ellen Pompeo, and Stone Temple Pilots guitarist's estranged wife, Jenn DeLeo. The latter made waves in 2023 for accusing her husband, Dean DeLeo, of physical abuse. The Blast covered the story, reporting Jenn called the cops on her beau. Jenn reported her husband had left the house intoxicated, noting he was driving under the influence. It did not take long before the officers found the musician, pulled him over, and arrested him for DUI. However, while in police custody, Jenn made another report of domestic violence. Authorities reportedly found enough evidence to book Dean for felony domestic violence, and an emergency protection order was issued for Jenn. The order banned her husband from approaching her, but he soon violated the agreement. Police sources noted Dean tried to contact Jenn and eventually turned himself in for the violation. He was later released only to face a divorce lawsuit from his wife. The separation filing marked the second Jenn has filed, with the first happening in 2018. Following his second divorce case, Dean implied he was innocent, telling sources: "I look forward to having my voice heard at the appropriate time and place to address these allegations." His domestic violence allegations marked the second time Jenn had accused him of such behavior. In her 2018 divorce filing, Jenn accused Dean of being an abusive and drunken mess. She implied he was a danger to those around him, claiming she feared for her life and that of her daughter, June. Jenn filed for divorce days after Dean allegedly made violent threats, admitted to cheating, and told her to leave the house. She claimed he did so in their daughter's presence, explaining that his alarming behavior started in 2012. According to the alleged victim, her husband began changing shortly after they walked down the aisle and welcomed June. Dean, per Jenn's claims, began abusing alcohol and drugs until he became increasingly violent and unpredictable. One incident allegedly saw him nearly drowning their daughter in the ocean. Before the sexual assault and harassment allegations, Toback made waves in the entertainment industry as a screenwriter and film director. He first gained fame by writing the semi-autobiographical "The Gambler," released in 1974. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1991 for the movie "Bugsy." As a director, Toback made his debut in the 1978 film "Fingers." He went on to direct other popular projects like 1987's "The Pick-up Artist," 1997's "Two Girls and a Guy," and 1999's "Black and White." Toback first walked down the aisle in April 1968, tying the knot to Consuelo Sarah Churchill Vanderbilt Russell. However, their relationship quickly ended in divorce. The director found love again with his second marriage to Stephanie Kempf, who edited his first documentary, "The Big Bang," in 1989, per Wikipedia. Will James Toback fight the $1.68 billion judgment?
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Aurat March was hijacked'
During a podcast with entrepreneur Kanwal Cheema, actor Ahmad Ali Butt sparked controversy with his comments on the #MeToo Movement and Aurat March. "Like the #MeToo Movement, Aurat March was also hijacked. Now, there's even proof that these movements are being heavily funded just to disrupt the family structure of Pakistan," he claimed. However, Butt failed to provide any evidence or data to back his statement. He further amplified the backlash by sharing a snippet of his views on feminism on his Instagram account. The post quickly drew sharp criticism from showbiz figures and social media users, who condemned his unsupported claims. Schooling feminism Actor and former model Frieha Altaf wrote, "Oh, hello! Please look up the definition of 'feminism'. Feminism stands for full social, economic, and political equality for women. Humanity suffers when one gender is discriminated against. For example, women not being allowed to work or getting paid less for the same job, not allowed to vote, and basically not allowed a choice." She added that, socially, women are considered lesser beings, who don't possess the ability to make their own decisions, and are viewed as baby-producing machines. "Ahmad, I'm so disappointed that you made the statement that #MeToo and Aurat March are foreign-funded. These opinions must be backed with facts," she wrote. "For years, women have endured sexual harassment at workplaces, being looked at in a lewd way, and being inappropriately touched. How could you, a man, know what that feels like?" she said. "The courage it took to speak up on this became a global voice. By saying that Aurat March is disrupting your family structure and that women are created to multiply, you are insinuating that that's their only purpose in life." Frieha believes that the same principle applies to men whose sole function in society is not just to be providers. "Let me tell you that feminism and Islam do not take away women's rights. They give them those rights. If a woman chooses to be a homemaker, she does it out of free will; she's not a prisoner. If her husband, father, or brother force her to be a homemaker, then she's definitely a prisoner. Now, can we stop being so obsessed with women's clothing? 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' is about choice and free will. Let it be a choice." Where is the proof? Many in the comments section questioned Ahmad on potentially spreading misinformation. Joyland director Saim Sadiq wrote, "Where is the proof of this foreign funding? Please share it immediately or apologise for your irresponsible and factually incorrect lies." Activist Leena Ghani was quick to point out the podcaster's hypocrisy. "If Ahmad Ali Butt hates feminists so much, does he also hate his own grandmother, Madam Noor Jehan? She was a true feminist icon. She wore what she wanted because she understood the power of 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi'. She built a legendary career in a male-dominated industry. She paved the way for countless women in music and lived unapologetically on her own terms." Leena added, "Typical how men like him, who, let's be honest, no one would even know of if not for his grandmother, enjoy the benefits of powerful women in their own family but have a problem when other women demand the same freedom." Digital creator Saddia Mazhar called out both Ahmad and Kanwal on their views. "Feminism is about empowerment and equal rights. Kanwal, the very reason you are sitting here and speaking on multiple platforms is because of the strength and space that feminism has provided," she began. "Ahmad, instead of spreading baseless propaganda, present concrete proof if you claim that Aurat March is funded and aims to destroy Pakistan's family structure. Otherwise, it's best to remain silent," she asserted. "These individuals, sitting comfortably in their lavish studios, have no genuine concern for societal welfare. Their only goal is to stir controversy and spread misinformation." On hypocrisy Other users also weighed in on the debate, with many echoing the sentiment that there is no concrete proof to back Ahmad's claims. In addition, an Instagram user slammed the close-up shots of women overlaying the clip when the interviewer and his guest discussed the topic of "indecency". "What's with that voyeuristic montage of women's bodies at the start? Why are you acting like a t-shirt and jhumkas are some anomaly?" the user wrote. "Did amnesia hit you overnight or are you just performing purity now? You were not exactly observing purdah during your days in EP, and you definitely ran in circles full of 'modern' women throughout your career. Did a memory wipe come with this midlife rebrand?" Netizens even criticised Ahmad for building a mass narrative based on "dangerous" claims that are sure to influence the wrong crowd, urging him to be careful with what he perpetuates to his large following.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Don Lemon Drops Bombshell Sexual Harassement Claim By Men & Women Years Before His Sexist Exit From CNN
Don Lemon is sharing more details about his time on CNN, including the alleged abuse he endured from men and women. The television journalist famous for his days on the network recently opened up about his traumatic experiences. He claimed both genders harassed him at work; however, he never reported the alleged crimes to management. Don Lemon's bombshell confessions come two years after his termination from CNN. His exit followed a shocking exposé that accused him of threatening a female co-worker, among other sexist and misogynistic allegations. Lemon shed light on the alleged harassment at his former workplace during a recent appearance on the "Club Random" podcast. He described the experiences as "ridiculous," telling host Bill Maher that men and women had harassed him. "There are some things that are really egregious, but not everything is Harvey Weinstein-level," he explained, referencing the infamous film producer whose rape and sexual assault allegations sparked the #MeToo Movement. As for Lemon's alleged experiences, he recalled a woman touching him inappropriately while getting something to eat at the CNN cafeteria in Atlanta. The journalist, per Page Six, said: "This young lady tweaked my nipples and said, 'Oh, it's cold in here.' I said, 'OK, you realize that if I did that, they'd be walking me out the door right now?'" Lemon confessed that he never told HR about the harassment because he saw the incident as a "double standard." He had the same thoughts following a second incident where another woman offered to let him spend the night at her place. Lemon noted the incident occurred after a work event when ride-share services like Uber and Lyft did not exist. "I never told this story. Someone who I worked with also harassed me at CNN, and I never went to management," he lamented. "First of all, I was so new there. She knew I was gay. It was just bizarre. She was going through a divorce. … It was weird," Lemon added. He reiterated his fear of "double standard," saying he was worried management wouldn't believe him and "get rid" of him. Looking back on the situation, Lemon wished he had chosen a different option instead of letting fear control his decisions. "I thought, 'OK, they may find a way to get rid of me, because if I told this story, I don't know if they're gonna believe me or not,'" he shared, adding: "But then she was so mean to me after that, I was like, 'I should have told the story.'" Lemon joined CNN in 2006 but was fired in 2023 after making sexist remarks on air. The Blast covered the drama, reporting an exposé by Variety had accused the journalist of misogyny. The scathing article was titled "Don Lemon's Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and 'Diva-Like Behavior.'" The exposé alleged that Lemon had engaged in questionable conduct since his employment. Several interviews with sources backed these claims, including one that accused the journalist of anonymously threatening his co-anchor Kyra Phillips in 2008. The drama between the former co-workers allegedly started over a high-profile assignment that Phillips won. However, a spokesperson for Lemon denied the allegations, claiming: "The story is riddled with patently false anecdotes and lacks concrete evidence, relying solely on unsourced and unsubstantiated 15-year-old anonymous gossip." According to the exposé, Lemon was outraged when his former co-host Phillips was assigned to Iraq instead of him. He took his anger out on his ex-colleague, allegedly tearing up pictures and notes on her desk. Afterward, Lemon allegedly sent her threatening texts from an unknown number. The exposé claimed CNN investigated the case and traced the messages back to the journalist. However, a spokesperson for CNN alleged the network could not verify the accuracy of these alleged events from 2008. Besides his alleged threats to Phillips, Lemon gained infamy in 2023 for making sexist remarks. During an on-air discussion with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, the journalist suggested that politician Nikki Haley was beyond her prime at 51. When Lemon's former co-hosts asked him to explain what he meant by Haley being beyond her prime, The Blast noted the journalist said: "She says ... politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn't in her prime. Sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in [their] 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s." "That's not according to me. If you Google 'When is a woman in her prime,' it'll say 20s, 30s and 40s. I don't necessarily — I'm not saying I agree with that," Lemon added. He walked back his comments on X, apologizing for his insensitive reference. Unfortunately, his apology was not enough. In April 2023, Lemon revealed CNN had fired him. He shared the news in a lengthy statement, writing: "I was informed this morning by my agent I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly." What bombshell stories from his CNN days will Don Lemon share next?
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'The View' says media mistreated Monica Lewinsky in look back on Clinton affair on 27th anniversary
"The View" weighed in on the media's treatment of Monica Lewinsky on the 27th anniversary of the White House scandal that rocked the nation. The hosts argued there has been a cultural movement to reexamine Lewinsky's role as a young White House intern in her infamous affair with President Bill Clinton that ultimately led to his impeachment in 1998. The hosts argued that Lewinsky's life was more harmed by the affair while Clinton returned to his life outside the White House relatively "unscathed." Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said she remembered the media's focus being negatively centered on Lewinsky. Monica Lewinsky Says 'Right Way' For Bill Clinton To Handle Affair Would Have Been To 'Resign' "I remember the headlines," she said. "It was criticizing her looks, her weight. 'The Lewinsky scandal,' not the man who is the person in a much greater position of power that also engaged in the affair." Read On The Fox News App Farah Griffin said today, people are more ready to recognize the power dynamics at play in the affair and said Clinton should've borne "way more responsibility" than he did. Co-host Sunny Hostin agreed that the situation had "terrible" power dynamics, and as a mother of a 22-year-old son, she sees the affair in a different light now. She decried cancel culture from keeping Lewinsky from moving on with her life. "This is a woman who, 30 years later, is still somewhat defined by this," she said. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "I absolutely think she was skewered," co-host Sara Haines agreed. Haines explained how Lewinsky's name was tarnished by the media attention and cost her the ability to form romantic relationships. "This isn't all on President Clinton, but President Clinton, between the two of them, went unscathed. He continued to have a life. He was able to restore his marriage, his family, all that mattered to him," Haines argued. "When I think of Monica Lewinsky, I jump to the 'Lewinsky scandal'," she continued. "Watching how Lewinsky was torn apart by the morality police of the times… It all fell on her and the media was a reflection of what society was okay with," Haines said. The affair between Lewinsky and Clinton came to light during his second term in office. He was impeached by the House of Representatives on Dec. 19, 1998, for committing perjury before a grand jury and obstructing justice. Co-host Joy Behar pushed back on how her co-hosts were defending Lewinsky but agreed that there has been a cultural shift since the #MeToo Movement. Behar said Lewinsky, who was 22 at the start of the affair, was "not a baby" at the time and should also have some "self-awareness" of what she learned from the incident, 27 years later. "When I was 22, I was married," Behar said. "Twenty-two is not a baby." The topic was broached because of remarks Lewinsky made during an appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast on Wednesday. "I think that the right way to handle a situation like that would have been to probably say it was nobody's business and to resign," Lewinsky told host Alex Cooper after revealing that she had never been asked about how the situation should have been handled. "Or to find a way of staying in office that was not lying and not throwing a young person who is just starting out in the world under the bus." Lewinsky also said that while she felt Clinton's behavior was worse, she still made her own mistakes. "Let's recognize that while there were so many ways that Bill's behavior was more reprehensible than mine, I did make mistakes," she said. Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this article source: 'The View' says media mistreated Monica Lewinsky in look back on Clinton affair on 27th anniversary
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Seth Rogen sidesteps question on James Franco friendship after #MeToo claims
Seth Rogen sidesteps question on James Franco friendship after #MeToo claims Show Caption Hide Caption Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned: 'Sick to my stomach' A New York appeals court has overturned the 2020 landmark conviction of Harvey Weinstein, which popularized the #MeToo Movement. Seth Rogen is speaking out about the end of his friendship with James Franco — well, barely. In an interview with Esquire magazine published Tuesday, the comedian stayed relatively mum about his relationship with his "Freaks and Geeks" co-star. "Honestly, I absorb so little media that it really wasn't on my radar," Rogen told Esquire. The magazine noted, "That is all he wants to say about that" and "he's clearly not surprised to get the question, and he's just as clearly not happy about it" after being asked about his former friend. In an interview with Variety published in October, Franco got candid about a falling out with Rogen after a wave of #MeToo sexual misconduct allegations in the 2010s. 'We had 20 great years': James Franco says Seth Rogen friendship 'over' after #MeToo fallout "I haven't talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it's over. And not for lack of trying. I've told him how much he's meant to me," Franco told Variety in the interview. Rogen and Franco, who met as teenagers in Hollywood, worked together on famous projects such as "Freaks and Geeks," "The Disaster Artist," "Pineapple Express" and "This Is The End." But in real life, things have become complicated. James Franco in 2021: 'I don't want Seth' to answer for me In 2021, Franco candidly spoke about his sexual misconduct allegations and the end of his relationship with Rogen, who told Britain's The Sunday Times earlier that year that he had no plans to work with his ex-friend again. The Oscar nominee reflected on Rogen's comments during an interview with host Jess Cagle on SiriusXM's "The Jess Cagle Podcast" in December 2021. "Of course it was hurtful in context, but I get it. He had to answer for me, 'cause I was silent. He had to answer for me and I don't want that. And so that's why it's one of the main reasons I wanted to talk to you today. I don't want Seth or my brother (actor Dave Franco) or anyone to have to answer for me anymore," Franco told Cagle during the interview. Franco added in the 2021 interview that, "We didn't have one fight for 20 years. Not one fight. He was my absolute closest work friend, collaborator. And we just gelled and what he said is true: We aren't working together right now, and we don't have any plans to work together." Franco previously DM'd underage girl on Instagram, stoking controversy The events that led to their downfall date back a decade. In 2014, Franco, then 35, made headlines after he asked out a 17-year-old girl on Instagram (He later apologized). That year, Franco and Rogen both joked about the infamous incident on "SNL" during respective hosting stints. "I do look back at a joke I made on 'Saturday Night Live' in 2014 and I very much regret making that joke," Rogen later said. "It was a terrible joke, honestly. And I also look back to that interview in 2018 where I comment that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now." In June 2021, Franco agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him by his former acting students, who alleged that he pushed students into increasingly sexual and exploitive scenes on camera at his now-shuttered Studio 4 acting and filmmaking school, which boasted locations in Los Angeles and New York City.
