While liberalism is currently going through a sort of masochistic crisis, we mustn't forget the many benefits afforded us by our cultures too often disparaged fervor for “social justice,” one of which is the gradual dismantling of the antiquated boys club that is the film industry. The concept of Gatekeepers is withering away beneath the swelling voices of a generation of resentful underdogs, a generation unafraid to undermine the weight of “celebrity” in their pursuit of the equal playing field they’ve been promised for decades. The whole “these are the breaks” maxim no longer flies when it applies to the rickety old predators that hang around the crossroads looking for chattel desperate to bargain their souls for a shot at stardom.
In the same news cycle, “harmless” beta kingpin Andy Signore and slimy gollumpus, Harvey Weinstein were taken to task for their years of rumoured inappropriate behavior toward young women, resulting in their immediate firings.
But it didn’t end there, at least not for Weinstein. Countless horror stories soon surfaced, unveiling not only the contemptible nature of the once-revered hollywood mogul, but the degree of moral cowardice practiced by the well-regarded elites that aided in covering up Weinstein’s rapacious behavior over the years, alleged to include Ben Affleck.
According to several sources, Affleck has been complicit in some licentious comportments of his own. The proliferation of seedy allegations followed Affleck's decision to issue an apology to actress Hilarie Burton for groping her on TRL almost a decade ago. Saying nothing of the validity of accusations beyond the one Affleck conceded, I'd like to take a moment to revel in the public's decision to derogate from the hypocritical blind eye that has dogged issues of human rights for far too long.
All the geek goodwill Signore garnered over the years became irrelevant in the face of the serious allegations plaguing him. Weinstein, himself a living, breathing institution could not weather the storms of impartiality. As it turns out, Affleck, the mewing “progressive” demagogue is not exempt from scrutiny.
We must all learn to cast aside our hero worship and fandom whenever it threatens the very serious civil tenets we all claim to hold dear. Numerous women in the film industry have made the brave decison to come foward. It would do you well to give their accounts a read.
