Olivia Munn Calls for 'Foundational, Systemic Changes' to Put an End to Sexual Assault and Abuses of Power
Last month, among the sexual misconduct allegations that flooded the news after Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s own alleged history of sexual abuse came out, Olivia Munn joined several other women in accusing producer Brett Ratner of sexual assault and harassment. Olivia told the Los Angeles Times that Ratner, after allegedly masturbating in front of her on a film set in the early 2000s, continued to harass her and started spreading rumors that they had consensually slept together. Of her decision to finally speak out against Ratner, Olivia told the Times, “It feels as if I keep going up against the same bully at school who just won’t quit. You just hope that enough people believe the truth and for enough time to pass so that you can’t be connected to him anymore.”
Now, as even more powerful men join the dozens already accused of sexual abuse in the past few months, the X-Men: Apocalypse star is calling for a total overhaul of the system that has allowed for these alleged abuses of power. In a powerful essay she wrote for Entertainment Weekly this week, Olivia advocates for systemic changes, including a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault, that will, hopefully, prevent any further sexual misconduct by those in charge.
“In our world today—and it’s not just Hollywood, it’s the same for girls and women all over the world who have survived sexual abuse and/or harassment—abusers don’t usually get in trouble unless the victim is broken first, because the violating act alone is not damaging enough to spark society’s outrage. It’s a marathon towards self-destruction in order to gain credibility and a vicious circle of victim-blaming,” she wrote. “When people ask how these men in powerful positions were able to hurt so many people for so many years, I look to the people at the top and ask those questions.”
She continued, “This is not a ‘women’s’ issue, this is an abuse-of-power issue … and until we eradicate the diseased roots of our infrastructure and make foundational, systemic changes, nothing will change. We can use this moment to create a lasting shift. We should create a zero-tolerance policy with actionable consequences for sexual assault and any other forms of abuse. Heads of studios, bosses, and CEOs should enforce equal pay because continuing to pay us less perpetuates a bias that women are inferior.”
Olivia ended on a powerful note, asking for those already in positions of power not to be complacent in the corrupt system that allows for powerful people to take advantage of those below them. “If you’re already at the top or on your way there, please don’t hold us back anymore. Instead, stand with the rest of us—because the glass ceiling that hangs over me is the same glass ceiling that will hang over your daughters, sisters, nieces,” she wrote. “Together, our voices are mighty, powerful, and earth-shaking. We’re strong. We’re not afraid to call each other out—and we’re not afraid to call you out anymore either.”