In light of the recent flood of misconduct by Harvey Weinstein, Terry Crews comes forward as a sexual assault victim and talks about why many don’t come forward.Crews, who stands at six feet, two inches tall, is 240 pounds of muscle and played linebacker in the NFL, revealed his story via Twitter. Crews told the world that in 2016, he and his wife were at a party when a Hollywood executive came up to him in front of his wife and groped him. The former NFL linebacker and bodyguard said that he wanted to have a physical altercation right then and there, but because of the politics of Hollywood and how it would look in the papers, he and his wife decided to leave. The action star says he didn’t pursue it any further because he didn’t want to be ostracized in Hollywood because the fact is that in this situation and as in the case with Weinstein the abuser has the influence and power. https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838446697226240https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838823874105344His goal in sharing his story? He wants to prevent other victims from remaining silent and to deter predators.
Let’s get this straight for everyone who thinks it’s a joke. Unless you have legitimate consent (the person can’t be drunk or under the influence of drugs), you should keep your damn hands to yourself. This is a grown man who was in the NFL and was a professional bodyguard, who felt that his livelihood as an actor was so at risk that he chose to stay quiet. If that can happen to him, what do you think happens to the small town people without his impressive résumé or physique? The truth of the matter is that no matter how terrified you are of this person, not reporting it only gives the abuser more power. “I understand and empathize with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator. Hollywood is not the only business where [sic] this happens, and to the casualties of this behavior— you are not alone, hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless” says Crews in his closing tweets.In the case of Terry Crews, the executive called and apologized, and the incident went no further, but that’s not the case for everyone and some people have this held over their heads for years. It must stop. It’s not cool, it’s not attractive. It’s downright abhorrent and evil.