Following the scandals of sexual harassment surrounding the Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and the trending hashtag #metoo, men are also relating their stories of harassment in the entertainment business. Recently, Terry Crews, an actor on the Fox show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, came forward and filed a police report as a crime victim with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Crews claims he was at an industry party with his wife when a high-powered talent agent he had never met made “moves with his tongues” at him. As the man approached them, Crews said he extended his own hand for a handshake, but the man instead groped him and squeezed his genitals. Crews protested, but the man continued his licking gestures until Crews had to push him away causing the man to bump into other people at the party.
#metoo
Crews, like so many other actors, was moved to share his story on Twitter and initially declined to name the perpetrator calling him only “a high-level Hollywood executive.” But then he said he realized that children are always told that if they are touched inappropriately they should tell an adult they can trust about it. A father of five, Crews said he had to set a good example for his children. As such, during an interview on Good Morning America, he named the man who assaulted him at the party as Adam Venit.
Venit works at William Morris Endeavor, a major talent agency, as head of the motion picture department. Crews said that although, as a powerful talent agent, Venit is connected to nearly everyone he knows in the industry, he did not know him personally at all. Venit has represented well known stars such as Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Eddie Murphy and Sylvester Stallone. Afterwards, Crews said he felt objectified and emasculated and that Venit looked at him as if to say “Who is going to believe you?”
LAPD confirmed that Terry Crews met with officers on November 8th, but would not specify what the meeting was about. The next day Crews fired William Morris as his agency and Venit was suspended pending an internal investigation at the firm. He has since returned to his position.
#imfree
The incident at the party happened in February 2016. Crews said he had pushed it to the back of his mind until the allegations against Harvey Weinstein made the news and brought everything back. It was easy for him to understand why the women had not come forward earlier. In his Good Morning America interview, he talked about the abuse of power in Hollywood and said it was time for people who abuse their power to be held accountable. He said those who are abused are held captive by the experience and cannot break free if they cannot even name their abusers. Crews says that coming forward freed him. After the interview, he posted on Twitter with the hashtag #imfree.
Marlton Sexual Harassment Lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. Represent Men and Women Who Have Been Sexually Harassed
When it comes to sexual harassment, many people think only about women as victims, but men can suffer too and are less likely to come forward. If you have been harassed and have questions, talk to an experienced Marlton sexual harassment lawyer at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.. We will review your case free of charge and help you determine your legal options.
Call our Red Bank office at 732-842-6500, our Marlton office at 856-985-9800, our Newark office at 973-878-9040, or contact us at 888-396-0736 or online for a free consultation.