Actor Terry Crews Reveals He Was Groped by a Hollywood Executive Last Year
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor and former football player Terry Crews has joined the list of stars opening up on sexual assault.
Crews tweeted on Tuesday after several days of stories about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Crews' story about an unnamed executive groping his privates broadens the conversation beyond men assaulting women. It also reveals more reasons why many victims only choose to tell close friends/family instead of "coming forward" at the time to press charges.
This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. (1/Cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
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. (2/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
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. (3/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I was going to kick his ass right then— but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear. (4/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
"240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho" would be the headline the next day. (5/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Only I probably wouldn't have been able to read it because I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL. So we left.
(6/cont.)— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
That night and the next day I talked to everyone I knew that worked with him about what happened. (7/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
He called me the next day with an apology but never really explained why he did what he did. (8/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn't want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence. (9/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go. (10/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
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)(11/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I love what I do. But it's a shame and the height of disappointment when someone tries to takes advantage of that. (12/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
He knows who he is. But sumtimes Uhav2 wait & compare notes w/ others who've been victimized in order 2gain a position of strength. (13cont)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I understand and empathize with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator. (14/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Hollywood is not the only business we're this happens, and to the casualties of this behavior— you are not alone. (15/cont.)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless. (16/end)
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Fans have been reaching out to thank Crews for sharing his experience, and adding more perspective:
Terry Crews is 6'3 240lbs and he was scared to speak up about his sexual assault. Now ask yourself why a 5'1 125lbs woman wouldn't be scared
— ???? (@Dannichka) October 10, 2017
Terry Crews' experience is exactly what women/advocates mean when they say rape/sexual assault is about power and not just sex.
— cp (@cultA_KlAsh) October 10, 2017
If sexual harassment can happen to friggin' Terry Crews, maybe "you should have fought him off harder" isn't good advice. https://t.co/oM9RXQGjNV
— Lauren@Home (@laureninspace) October 10, 2017
Terry Crews' comments are so important because we also don't talk about men who face sexual harassment and abuse by powerful men.
— Ira Madison III (@ira) October 10, 2017
Predatory behavior is about exerting power over other people's bodies and boundaries. Those bodies are not always female. Bless Terry Crews: https://t.co/zVEMrybtfh
— PhoeBewitched (@phoebelett) October 10, 2017
Stars have been speaking up to share their stories of abuse by Harvey Weinstein. But, as Crews notes, Weinstein is not the only one out there abusing his status, he's just the one standing in for all of the others right now.
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