Getty Images/Aaron Thornton(LOS ANGELES) — Friday, Rose McGowan made her first public remarks since she became one of the dozens of women accusing now-disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
“I have been silenced for 20 years,” McGowan said. “I have been slut-shamed. I have been harassed.”
McGowan delivered the opening speech on Friday morning at the Women’s Convention, arranged by organizers of the Women’s March.
“What happened to me behind the scenes happens to all of us in this society,” McGowan said. “That cannot stand and will not stand … We are free. We are strong. We are one massive collective voice.”
The Charmed actress was among the women cited in an initial New York Times report earlier this month as having settled harassment claims against Weinstein. McGowan didn’t comment for the article.
Since that time, McGowan has used Twitter to support other accusers and to seemingly accuse Weinstein of raping her.
McGowan did not name Weinstein in her talk Friday, but alluded to “the monster” who is dominating headlines.
McGowan told the crowd, “I came to be a voice for all who have been told we are nothing.”
“No more will we be shunted to the side, no more will we be hurt,” McGowan said. “It’s time to be brave in the face of unspeakable actions.”
Calling Hollywood a male-dominated environment, she said, “It’s time to clean house.”
Through representatives, Weinstein repeatedly has denied allegations of rape, a spokesperson saying again Tuesday in a statement to ABC News, “Any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.”
The board of the Weinstein Co. terminated the producer, and he later tendered his resignation from the board. He was also expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America has voted to begin proceedings to oust him.
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