Salma Hayek has spoken out against Harvey Weinstein's denials of sexual abuse against herself and three japanese sisters and mother have sex videoactress Lupita Nyong’o, saying he hadn't responded to any other actresses' claims in the same way because they were both women of color.
Hayek spoke on the #MeToo movement and the fallout from accusations against disgraced producer Weinstein on Sunday as part of the Kering 'Women in Motion' talks at Cannes Film Festival, in a live-streamed interview at the Majestic Hotel.
SEE ALSO: Diablo Cody on 'Tully' and the rise of women in HollywoodHayek publicly accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and abuse in December 2017, in a harrowing op-ed published in The New York Times. The Oscar-winning actress called Weinstein "her monster," after his treatment of her on the set of 2002's Frida —an accusation Weinstein denied.
The strange thing about Weinstein's denial, Hayek noted, was not that he refuted the claims, but that he or his team said anything about them at all — most of Weinstein's sexual abuse accusers have not been directly addressed by the producer.
Hayek said Weinstein's direct responses were only to herself, and the accusations lodged against him by Nyong’o.
“He only responded to two women, two women of color," Hayek said. “It was a strategy by the lawyers, because we are the easiest to get discredited.
"It is a well-known fact, that if you are a woman of color, people believe in you less, and believe what you say less. So he went back attacking the two women of color, in hopes of discrediting... if he could discredit us, which would be easier for the audience, the readers, to not believe us, he could then maybe discredit the rest."
Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, including rape, by over 70 women. Hayek correctly points out that Weinstein has publicly responded to and denied the accusations made against him from both herself and Nyong’o. But it’s important to note they’re not the only women he’s denied abusing.
For example, Weinstein denied accusations of assault from actress Ashley Judd, who went on the record with The New York Timesin their initial bombshell report. Weinstein said, "I never laid a glove on her,” and threatened to sue the paper.
He floated legal action against actress Uma Thurman hours after she went public with assault allegations. And he released a statement through his attorney denying Rose McGowan's accusation of rape, saying the encounter was consensual.
In fact, Weinstein's own attorney says there was "no criminality" in his client's behavior — any of it.
The Cannes interview with Hayek took place the day after Hayek walked the Cannes red carpet with the likes of Wonder Womandirector Patty Jenkins, A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay, and actresses Kristen Stewart, Jane Fonda, Cate Blanchett, and Marion Cotillard, as part of a group of 82 women protesting gender inequality. Only 82 films in competition in the official selection have been directed by women over the past 71 years of the festival whereas 1,645 films have been directed by men.
Sofia Boutella, Salma Hayek and Patty Jenkins pose on the red carpet in protest at the screening of "Girls Of The Sun (Les Filles Du Soleil)." Credit: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Hayek said that although achieving equality would take time, movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp have created a serious long-lasting avenue for change.
"The men are terrified," she said. "The predators are hiding and terrified. You feel it. It’s a very palpable atmosphere."
“Personally, as a woman that has been part of this community and has had to go through the struggles that all women have had to go through, it’s an important step to see this happen," she said.
"We should have come together, because that's what's made a difference."
You can watch the full interview below:
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