Casey Affleck was just nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. Here’s a refresher on the not one, but two sexual harassment lawsuits brought against him by female crew members who worked on his film I’m Still Here:
- The first plaintiff, Amanda White, alleged Affleck:
- Ordered a crew member to take off his pants and show White his penis, even after she vehemently objected.
- Repeatedly referred to women as “cows.”
- When she revealed her age, he said, “Isn’t it about time you get pregnant?” and then suggested she and another male crew member reproduce.
- Locked her out of her own bedroom to have sex with another woman in her room.
- Attempted to manipulate her into sharing a hotel room with him, and when she objected, he grabbed her and attempted to scare her into submission.
- He then proceeded to send her abusive text messages, calling her “profane names” for refusing to stay with him.
The second plaintiff, Magdalena Gorkin, alleges Affleck:
- Openly talked about engaging in sexual activities with her.
- Suggested she have sex with another male crew member.
- When Affleck had the crew stay at his apartment over night in lieu of a hotel, he offered Gorka his private bedroom while he said he would sleep in the living room. When she woke up, she found Affleck lying next to her, and when she told him to leave, he asked why and then left slamming the door.
- She left the project, but came back once White joined in the hope that two women on the set would reduce the amount of sexual harassment. It did not, and she was subjected to daily sexual comments and unwanted advances, under the supervision and encouragement of Affleck.
- In retaliation against their lawsuits, Affleck refused to honor many of the terms of their employment, including refusing to list Gorka as a Director of Photography on the project and refusing to pay White at all for any of the work she did on the film.
Remember, Nate Parker had his Oscar chances ended entirely by scrutiny over his rape case. Yet Affleck has cruised to easy Best Actor wins at every critics’ circle, guild, and awards body in Hollywood.
Now, I realize there are other differences between Parker and Affleck. For example, Parker was the writer, director, producer, and star of Birth of a Nation, while Affleck was just the lead actor in his project. Which is why I’m focusing not on Manchester’s box office numbers or other awards success, but just on Affleck’s utter domination of the Best Actor circuit with very little pushback.
I’m not saying Parker shouldn’t have been scrutinized to the point of losing his awards chances; I’m saying Affleck should have been, and our failure to do so is a product of white supremacy.
Affleck also had his bro and white mansplaining Damon campaining heavely for him, shutting any reporters questionning Affleck about by threatening to cut any access to them in the future. In a way, it was lose your if you talk too much or keep it if you stay lowkey about it. Disgusting.
So basically they pulled a Trump.
Honestly….. Fuck Matt Damon and fuck Casey Affleck
