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Reese Witherspoon Was Sexually Assaulted By A Director

[Blind Gossip] Actress Reese Witherspoon revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a director when she was only 16 years old.

Witherspoon detailed her story as a speaker at Elle’s Women in Hollywood event. Prior to honoring actress Laura Dern – her costar in Big Little Lies – Witherspoon talked about the impact the assault had on her.

I didn’t sleep at all last night. This is going to be a real emotional roller coaster because, before we get started honoring one of my very favorite people in the whole world, I just want to say, this has been a really hard week for women in Hollywood, for women all over the world, for men in a lot of situations and a lot of industries that are forced to remember and relive a lot of ugly truths.

I have my own experiences that have come back to me very vividly, and I found it really hard to sleep, hard to think, hard to communicate. A lot of the feelings I’ve been having about anxiety, about being honest, the guilt for not speaking up earlier or taking action. True disgust at the director who assaulted me when I was 16 years old and anger that I felt at the agents and the producers who made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment.

And I wish I could tell you that that was an isolated incident in my career, but sadly, it wasn’t. I’ve had multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault, and I don’t speak about them very often, but after hearing all the stories these past few days and hearing these brave women speak up tonight, the things that we’re kind of told to sweep under the rug and not talk about, it’s made me want to speak up and speak up loudly because I felt less alone this week than I’ve ever felt in my entire career.

And I’ve just spoken to so many actresses and writers, and particularly women who’ve had similar experiences, and many of them have bravely gone public with their stories. And that truth is very encouraging to me and to everyone out there in the world because you can only heal by telling the truth. Very smart, wise women have told me that in the past three days, and I feel very encouraged by this group of people tonight who have created a community of people who are champions now of a new attitude toward harassment in our industry and every industry that’s going to address the abuse of power in this business and every business and I feel really, really encouraged that there will be a new normal.

For the young women sitting in this room, life is going to be different for you because we have you, we have your back. And that makes me feel better because, gosh, it’s about time. I just also want to say as a course of action because sometimes people, they talk about things but I was really thinking last night, what can we do, what can do we do?

And I just want to say, there’s a lot of people here who negotiate quite frequently with different companies and heads of companies, and I think maybe during your next negotiation, this is a really prudent time to ask important questions like: Who are your top female executives? Do those women have green-light power? How many women are on the board of your company? How many women are in a key position of decision-making at your company? Asking questions like that, I found, it seems so obvious, but people don’t ask those questions.

If we can raise consciousness and really help create change, that’s what’s going to change this industry and change society. So I’m so sad that I have to talk about these issues, but it would be, I would be remiss not to.

Similar: Reese Witherspoon Serves Up Two Blind Items

Director:

Film:

[Optional] What percentage of women in Hollywood do you think have been sexually harassed or assaulted at work?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. DenverJayhawk says

    This is so sad. Any and all sexual assault is horrible, but at 16? I wasn’t sexually active at that age-I had kissed a boy or two. She’s from the South, as am I. Definitely an element of naiveté and politeness that could definitely cause trouble. How traumatic. Sexual favors would have been totally off my radar at 16! My parents would have never left me alone for one second with anyone, but it could happen if they were distracted. And my parents would have been naive and trusting, too.

  3. libra123 says

    To the cowards anonymously commenting “name the names or it didn’t happen”. Maybe you don’t know what it’s like to get hit with a lawsuit for slander? Or what it’s like to press criminal charges and go through pre-trial and two court cases against your rapist? And even with multiple victims and DNA evidence from rape kits, the rapist is STILL found not guilty. Unless you have walked in those shoes, *.

  4. Jelly Drop says

    Mikael Salomon
    A far off place

    I would say the percentage would be at least 85% if not 90%. Objectification is rife.

  5. Grandma3 says

    I don’t know the time frame on how long it takes from time of making movie to release of movie…could be several from 1993 where she would be 16 at the time they were made. Only 1 movie in 1992 where she would actually be 16
    1993 – Director: Mikael Salomon – Movie: A Far Off Place
    Director: Marshall Herskovitz – Movie: Jack the Bear
    Director: Mike Robe – Movie: Return to Lonesome Dove
    1992 – Director: Andy Tennant – Movie: Desperate Choices: Save My Child

  6. plumplum says

    100% of women in Hollywood or elsewhere was assaulted sexually or physically or inappropriately at once in their lifes. In France,I asked to my female colleagues,everyone had a story .

    • scriptguy says

      How’s it feel to be part of the problem? Good? I hope so. You’ll need something to fill that hole in your heart where human empathy is supposed to go.

  9. KatarinaJ says

    When you check IMDB there is only one movie Reese did in the year she was 16 and it was a tv movie it looks like.

    • LC1216 says

      Don’t forget…movies are filmed 1 or sometimes 2 years before they’re released. She has 2 movies that would put her at 16 when it was filmed. She was probably 17 or 18 when the movies came out.

  10. Violets says

    The time is now, if you were abused by a pedophile…. speak up. I have a feeling people will take you seriously now.

  11. CelebrityGirl says

    Director/Film: Not sure. I’m not familiar enough with the directors from the films she did at that age to hazard a good guess.

    [Optional] What percentage of women in Hollywood do you think have been sexually harassed or assaulted at work? 100%. It’s Hollywood.

    • winteriscoming says

      100%!! If you keep quiet about this type of behavior, you are partly responsible for those who suffer same after you!!

      Speak up when it happens, no pity for you if you don’t report! I stood up to my abuser!!

    • Catharsis says

      Winteriscoming – Good for you for “standing up to your abuser.” However, you statements reveal that you don’t live in reality. Not all people that are assaulted are in a position to “stand up” and it’s heartbreaking that you are victim blaming – “it’s your fault for not naming names/coming forward!” It took me nearly ten years to come to terms with the fact that I was sexually assaulted – and that’s my fault? I didn’t report it because a) I don’t believe anything would come of it

    • Catharsis says

      b) for my own mental health, I can’t. Do I carry the burden that he may have assaulted others after me? Yes. But me reporting more than likely wouldn’t have changed any of his future behavior. To blame assault victims for “contributing” is despicable. The blame lies with the rapist.

  16. cynicat says

    Rene Manzor? Was supposed to direct A Far Off Place (released in 93), but was fired by Disney after 2 weeks due to “creative differences”.

    • hvp5ss says

      Oh, I think you’ve got this one. It didn’t say he continued to direct her, just that she was pressured to be silent by producers and agents in order to keep working. They probably appeased her by firing him, but her silence was part of the deal.

  18. LC1216 says

    Movie: Jack the Bear
    Director: Marshal Herskovitz
    or
    Movie: A Far Off Place
    Director: Mikael Salomon

  20. jefferino says

    Enough already.

    It’s like the boy who cried wolf. I’m starting to think these women as opportunists for sympathy and not as “victims.”

    If you are encouraging other women to come forward then why not practice what you preach and name names!!

    Why the secrecy?? Especially now?

    If this is all true then they are aiding and abetting by refusing to name the sex offender!

    • boyjack4 says

      Was Ithe only one who felt she chose this moment for strange reasons? She was there to honour Laura Dean, after that revelation,all glory was taken away from Laura, all anyone will remember was Reese’s speech. Distasteful. I am not querying the veracity of her comments,just the timing.

    • KatarinaJ says

      You do open yourself up to litigation and being sued… slander… libel. It isn’t as easy as you say. The statue of limitations has well run out on this and a lot of the behavior.

    • mar1ey says

      Enough already…women should just STOP coming forward to say they are sexually abused…right??? She did report it …. she said she felt, “True disgust at the director who assaulted me when I was 16 years old and anger that I felt at the agents and the producers who made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment.”

      Women are not just abused once, but over and over after their assault. To understand, you have to live through an assault, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

    • itstarapagain says

      Spoken like a true survivor. So sorry we are both in that same horrible club. Hope life is treating you well.

    • mar1ey says

      Many women spoke out that night about their abuse, including Jennifer Lawrence. It did not “take away” from Laura Dern.

  22. rexczarina says

    James Foley in Fear. I know she means well with the statements about having more women green-light films but won’t mean anything if these women don’t stand up for what they see happening. Just look at the other blinds.

  23. kimmukwest says

    I was going to say the director of Man in the Moon, but she was 14/15 then and the director of her next movie also directed Sweet Home Alabama, so I doubt it was him. Puzzler