# Open Secrets in Hollywood: what else is out there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995 "2017-10-15T22:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/41 "2017-10-24T00:44:45Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I hear whisperings regarding \*\*James Woods \*\* - like he might, I dunno, an incredible jerk or something. But it’s just a rumor 😉 Abuses women. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/42 "2017-10-24T13:35:28Z")
Richard Simmons is asexual, and maybe a virgin. Not everybody is gay, straight, bisexual or whatever. ETA: I do admire people who are never “out” cause they were never “in.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/43 "2017-10-24T14:13:51Z")
I’m seeing reports that people are finally acting against Terry Richardson. Richardson, for those who don’t know him, is a photographer. He does fashion, glamour, and nude work so his subjects are usually attractive young women, often celebrities. And there have been rumors that he has sexually harassed a lot of the women he works with. Which Richardson has always denied. Conde Nast, which publishes a number of magazines, has just announced that it will no longer work with Richardson because of these allegations. What’s somewhat unusual is that there are no new allegations. Conde Nast isn’t claiming that they just learned about this or that there’s been some recent tipping point in the number of allegations. They essentially just looked at Richardson’s history and decided it was no longer acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/44 "2017-10-24T14:54:52Z")
> [@The\_Big\_Poo](#): > > That Dan Schneider is a paedophile, he’s responsible for a lot of popular kids shows. > [@thirdname](#): > > Yes, there are rumors on the Internet about Dan “Get in the Van” Schneider. They seem to be based mostly on his Nickelodeon shows having lots of scenes involving feet, suggesting that he’s using underage actresses to indulge a foot fetish. And some pics of him being touchy-feely with actresses, lots of hugging and having them sit on his lap. Huh. Never heard of that one, and I loved his shows as a kid. Never noticed the feet thing either. Do you have a cite? I’d love to read up on this ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/45 "2017-10-24T18:23:09Z")
If you are going to get into domestic violence, the list starts to get depressing (and some of my favourite actors): Johnny Depp, Michael Fassbender, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nicholas Cage, Emma Roberts (and her dad Eric Roberts)all come up often as examples of “celebrities accused of or prone to domestic violence”. I was shocked that there wasn’t more scandal with Hugh Hefner when “bunnies” started to talk, but maybe he died before it started to get big? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/46 "2017-10-24T18:32:31Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It _is_ still amazingly common. Oprah still has Stedman. Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page “dated” for awhile. Skarsgard and Page were _rumored_ to be dating. There is little evidence they actually were, or purported to be doing so; they were just two attractive young actors working on the same project, so people made up a story about it. > [@Annie Xmas](#): > > Richard Simmons is asexual, and maybe a virgin. Do you know the guy? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/47 "2017-10-24T19:28:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m seeing reports that people are finally acting against Terry Richardson. Richardson, for those who don’t know him, is a photographer. He does fashion, glamour, and nude work so his subjects are usually attractive young women, often celebrities. > > And there have been rumors that he has sexually harassed a lot of the women he works with. Which Richardson has always denied. I always heard that Richardson was upfront with his behavior. It’s part of his creative process to be naked and aroused when taking photos. He even has assistants in the room at the time. We may think that’s crazy, but creative people often do crazy things and he takes good photos. I always thought he basically said, “This is how I take photos. If you don’t like it, get another photographer.” The problem I see is with the agencies who knew of his methods but sent naive clients to him for photos anyway because he could deliver what they wanted. The agencies should have made sure their clients were okay with what they were getting into. But the clients would show up and then feel uncomfortable because they didn’t want to leave and upset their agency. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/48 "2017-10-24T19:41:57Z")
The LA Times reporter who broke the James Toback story tweeted yesterday that he has been contacted by 193 more women about Toback. > ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/49 "2017-10-24T19:48:15Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The LA Times reporter who broke the James Toback story tweeted yesterday that he has been contacted by 193 more women about Toback. > [x.com](https://twitter.com/GlennWhipp/status/922601658571300864) \ [Post 39](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20557642&postcount=39). ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/50 "2017-10-24T22:39:56Z")
Maybe Steven Seagal will be next. Here’s a pic of Sheriff Shitbag [groping a 16 year-old Katherine Heigl.](https://i.imgur.com/DlTPKD8.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/51 "2017-10-25T00:31:37Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Maybe Steven Seagal will be next. Here’s a pic of Sheriff Shitbag [groping a 16 year-old Katherine Heigl.](https://i.imgur.com/DlTPKD8.jpg) That pic is really odd, but it’s not clear if it’s just a weird angle. [This article](https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1649050/the-skeezy-way-steven-seagal-treated-katherine-heigl-on-the-set-of-under-siege-2) goes a lot deeper into what happened or didn’t. It doesn’t sound like it’s trying to undercut Heigl but at the same time notes that nothing overt ever occurred that Heigl is accusing him of. Is Seagal creepy? Maybe. Probably. Still: > [@](#): > > Katherine Heigl has no recollection of being felt up, which is probably a memory she would have retained considering the aforementioned story. Katherine Heigl also goes on to say she loves Seagal, so it’s not like she’s got truly sore feelings about his behavior during Under Siege 2. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/52 "2017-10-25T04:26:24Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I always heard that Richardson was upfront with his behavior. It’s part of his creative process to be naked and aroused when taking photos. He even has assistants in the room at the time. We may think that’s crazy, but creative people often do crazy things and he takes good photos. I always thought he basically said, “This is how I take photos. If you don’t like it, get another photographer.” > > The problem I see is with the agencies who knew of his methods but sent naive clients to him for photos anyway because he could deliver what they wanted. The agencies should have made sure their clients were okay with what they were getting into. But the clients would show up and then feel uncomfortable because they didn’t want to leave and upset their agency. I’ve heard it goes a little further than that. Apparently Richardson uses the excuse that he’s getting models into the correct positions to grope them. And my understanding is that he behaved himself when he was working with some woman who was famous enough to be able to make a complaint about him stick. The fact that he’s upfront about it doesn’t excuse it. I’m sure Harvey Weinstein told a lot of actresses that they had to have sex with him in order to get a role in a movie. Being upfront about what you’re doing when what you’re doing is wrong is just a power trip for some people. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/53 "2017-10-25T13:15:15Z")
I don’t know Richard Simmons (in any sense of the word), but I did read his memoir, and he admits that when girls wanted their relationship to get physical, he backed off. No mention of guys, ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/54 "2017-10-25T18:21:27Z")
I wonder what Louis CK thinks of his new movie **I Love You, Daddy** , about a teenage girl having an affair with a Hollywood bigwig, in light of the Weinstein story. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zujShZT8_go/maxresdefault.jpg "I Love You, Daddy Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Indie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zujShZT8_go) ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/55 "2017-10-25T19:26:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The fact that he’s upfront about it doesn’t excuse it. I’m sure Harvey Weinstein told a lot of actresses that they had to have sex with him in order to get a role in a movie. Being upfront about what you’re doing when what you’re doing is wrong is just a power trip for some people. Hmmm. I won’t go so far as to “excuse it”, but the casting couch hiring process has supposedly been used in Hollywood for many decades. If a woman (not a child, mind you) is willing to have sex to get a role in a movie or TV show, do you only blame the studio head, showrunner or casting agent for that quid pro quo? If Weinstein assaulted women against their wishes, that’s one thing. But if he used his hiring power to bed women who were willing to participate in that process, that’s quite another. It’s certainly not a professional thing to do for either of them, but I find it hard to condemn only the studio people. I’m sure many will disagree. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/56 "2017-10-25T19:35:50Z")
Just because a woman offers sex does not mean the studio head has to accept. This is an unequal power relationship and I think the victims (because there were men and children too) were put in a position that they wouldn’t be able to achieve their dream of fame and fortune if they didn’t submit. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/57 "2017-10-25T20:02:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Just because a woman offers sex does not mean the studio head has to accept. This is an unequal power relationship and I think the victims (because there were men and children too) were put in a position that they wouldn’t be able to achieve their dream of fame and fortune if they didn’t submit. In Weinstein’s case( and likely many others )it allegedly went a step beyond the simple quid pro quo of offering roles for sex. They were at times more of a coercive sleep-with-me-or-I’ll-ruin-you sort of deals. If you’re a 19 or twenty-year old that can be a pretty terrifying prospect. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/58 "2017-10-25T20:08:31Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > I’m sure many will disagree. And I’m one of the many who disagree. Nobody should be required to have sex in order to get hired for a job. The fact that they can refuse doesn’t change that. I agree that sexual harassment and rape are two different crimes. But they’re both still serious crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/59 "2017-10-25T20:09:42Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Just because a woman offers sex does not mean the studio head has to accept. This is an unequal power relationship and I think the victims (because there were men and children too) were put in a position that they wouldn’t be able to achieve their dream of fame and fortune if they didn’t submit. Yeah, I don’t disagree. I didn’t state my position very well. It is an abuse of power, and a dishonorable thing to do. But I also think there is blame to go around. Certainly not equal amounts of blame, but just because someone has dreams of fame and fortune doesn’t mean they should be sleeping their way to the top. In show business or any other industry. I wouldn’t want my son or daughter acting this way if they were a studio hiring agent, nor would I want them acting this way if they were trying to get a part in a movie or TV show. But the “golly, gee, did this really happen” reactions are a bit much, given the open knowledge about “the casting couch”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995/60 "2017-10-25T21:00:20Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Yeah, I don’t disagree. I didn’t state my position very well. It is an abuse of power, and a dishonorable thing to do. But I also think there is blame to go around. Certainly not equal amounts of blame, but just because someone has dreams of fame and fortune doesn’t mean they should be sleeping their way to the top. In show business or any other industry. > > I wouldn’t want my son or daughter acting this way if they were a studio hiring agent, nor would I want them acting this way if they were trying to get a part in a movie or TV show. > > But the “golly, gee, did this really happen” reactions are a bit much, given the open knowledge about “the casting couch”. What about Susan McNamera, Deborah J. Hanley, Doris Falconer, and C. J. Haines? You’ve never heard of them because they refused sex, didn’t get the part, and left the industry. OK, obviously I made up those names and just as obviously they represent huge numbers of real women. Most would-be actors and actresses never get household name recognition, let alone become famous enough to speak out. Have you listened to the women who are? They say over and over that they felt threatened. Threatened to not get hired. Threatened to be blackballed if they complained. Threatened to get labeled if they got a reputation. Threatened to lose their slim chance at their preferred profession if they did not play by the rules that existed. Those rules are not simply the casting couch. Weinstein’s behavior seemingly never involved a casting couch of the form that the 30s studio heads used. The rules were looser, flexible, slathered over all types of situations to cover many types of behaviors that all these women say they never suspected existed. And these same systems were and are in place in every conceivable industry. Women get harassed everywhere. Where should they have gone in preference to the career they actually wanted? Blaming women for going along with the system is like blaming store owners for paying protection to the mob when that was part of the system. Hey, they could have said no. They could have closed their stores. They just perpetuated the system by their acquiescence. But you know that’s hogwash. The blame goes to the ones setting the rules for the system. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-secrets-in-hollywood-what-else-is-out-there/798995.md?page=4)