Reese Witherspoon sexually assaulted, Jennifer Lawrence made to stand naked in early years | Hollywood - Hindustan Times
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Reese Witherspoon sexually assaulted, Jennifer Lawrence made to stand naked in early years

Associated Press | ByAssociated Press
Oct 18, 2017 08:43 AM IST

Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lawrence have revealed their own horror stories of sexual abuse and objectification in the early years of their careers as actors in Hollywood.

Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lawrence used their speeches at a Hollywood event honouring women to detail experiences of assault and harassment at the hands of directors and producers and pledged to do more to stop such situations from happening.

Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lawrence found courage in examples of women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment.
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lawrence found courage in examples of women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment.

Witherspoon told the audience at the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards on Monday night that the recent revelation of decades of sexual misconduct allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein has prompted her own experiences to come back “very vividly.”

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Witherspoon said she had “true disgust at the director who assaulted me when I was 16 years old and anger at the agents and the producers who made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment.”

Reese Witherspoon and daughter Ava Phillipe attend ELLE's 24th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration. (AFP)
Reese Witherspoon and daughter Ava Phillipe attend ELLE's 24th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration. (AFP)

Witherspoon didn’t name the director. Her publicist didn’t immediately respond to a request Tuesday for further comment.

Lawrence detailed what she called a “degrading and humiliating” experience of being asked early on in her career to lose 15 pounds in two weeks for a role. She was then forced to pose nude alongside thinner women for photos that she says a female producer told her would serve as inspiration for her diet, she said.

When she tried to speak up about the demands, Lawrence said she couldn’t find a sympathetic ear from those in power.

Jennifer Lawrence (L) and ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia attend ELLE's 24th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration. (AFP)
Jennifer Lawrence (L) and ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia attend ELLE's 24th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration. (AFP)

“I was trapped and I can see that now,” Lawrence added. “I didn’t want to be a whistle-blower. I didn’t want these embarrassing stories talked about in a magazine. I just wanted a career.”

Lawrence said it wasn’t until she was an A-list star that she had the power to say no.

This combination of pictures shows US producer Harvey Weinstein (L); (1st row from L) US actress Rose McGowan, US actress Angelina Jolie taken on in New York City, Italian actress Asia Argento, US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, US actress Ashley Judd, (2nd row fromL) French actress Lea Seydoux, US actress Mira Sorvino, US actress Rosanna Arquette, US actress Louisette Geiss, British actress Kate Beckinsale, (3rd row fromL) Television reporter Lauren Sivan, US actress Jessica Barth, US producer Elizabeth Karlsen, French actress Emma De Caunes, and French actress Judith Godreche, all of who have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment. (AFP) (AFP)
This combination of pictures shows US producer Harvey Weinstein (L); (1st row from L) US actress Rose McGowan, US actress Angelina Jolie taken on in New York City, Italian actress Asia Argento, US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, US actress Ashley Judd, (2nd row fromL) French actress Lea Seydoux, US actress Mira Sorvino, US actress Rosanna Arquette, US actress Louisette Geiss, British actress Kate Beckinsale, (3rd row fromL) Television reporter Lauren Sivan, US actress Jessica Barth, US producer Elizabeth Karlsen, French actress Emma De Caunes, and French actress Judith Godreche, all of who have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment. (AFP) (AFP)

Witherspoon expressed similar regret for not being more vocal about her experience, saying she has felt anxiety about being honest and guilt for not speaking out earlier or taking action.

For her part, Lawrence pledged to be an advocate for “anyone who has ever felt threatened in this industry.”

“We will stop this kind of behavior from happening,” she said as she concluded her speech. “We will stop normalizing these horrific situations. We will change this narrative and make a difference for all of those individuals pursuing their dreams.”

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