The saga of Harvey Weinstein just keeps growing. In May, the producer was led in handcuffs to face rape charges, paid $1 million in bail, and was fitted with a GPS device. On Monday, Weinstein was charged with new sex crimes, which he has not responded to. It's been one hellish ride for Weinstein since his behavior was first exposed by the New York Times last October.
For years, many knew of Weinstein's behavior, but didn't speak out. That changed after October, with actresses such as Angelina Jolie, Gwenyth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Rose McGowan, and Ashley Judd speaking out about their experiences, most of which had one thing in common: Weinstein using his power to try and seduce women and threaten retaliation. Soon, more women began speaking out about their experiences with Weinstein, and by February, a civil rights lawsuit was filed. Weinstein has denied all of the allegations.
Related: Terry Crews Turned Down Expendables 4 After Being Told to Drop Assault Allegations
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. has now announced additional charges against Weinstein, which have the potential of life in prison. On Monday, Weinstein was indicted on charges that are described as "some of the most serious sexual offenses that exist" under New York's penal law. This time, the sexual charges are described as "predatory", and they involve three women. "This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward", says Vance.
Although one of the biggest Hollywood moguls was brought down, the scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein will prominently be remembered for creating the #MeToo movement, one of the biggest social movements of the past century. For the first time ever, men have finally been held accountable for sexual predatory behavior towards women. It has affected every single profession, and even men, such as Terry Crews, have spoken out being a victim of unwanted sexual behavior from other men. The #MeToo movement has been especially brutal to Hollywood, where such men such as Kevin Spacey, Chris Hardwick, Morgan Freeman, James Franco, and Louis C.K. have dealt with huge blows to their reputation and future. Even Aziz Ansari has been accused of sexual misconduct, though the accusations against him aren't as serious as many others.
Some believe that the #MeToo movement has become hypocritical, especially since Hollywood gave Kobe Bryant, a man who was very publicly accused of rape, a standing ovation and an Oscar earlier this year. Others believe the #MeToo movement has turned into a witch hunt. Whatever side you are on, nobody can deny that the fallout from Harvey Weinstein's actions has produced some of the biggest changes ever in the workplace when it comes to protecting women.