Harvey Weinstein confronted by comedians at Actors Hour - Metro.co.uk

Comedians and actors confronted Harvey Weinstein after the accused sexual predator attended a an actors event.

Weinstein – who faces five criminal charges, including rape and sexual assault – was in attendance at Actors Hour, an invite-only event, at Downtime bar in New York’s East Village on Wednesday night.

And comedians Kelly Bachman and Amber Rollo and actor Zoe Stuckless (who uses they/them pronouns) called out the shamed producer after spotting him in the crowd.

In a video of the beginning of Bachman’s set, shared to her Twitter, she said: ‘There’s an elephant in the room. It’s more of a Freddy Krueger, actually. I didn’t realise I needed to bring my own mace and rape whistle to Actors Hour.’

Bachman was booed by members of the audience, with one person shouting ‘shut up’.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN Confronted In NYC Event - Actors Hour Downtime Bar in the Lower East Side PLEASE READ AND SHARE THIS WHOLE THING!! Tonight was one of the most surreal nights of my life. I went to an event called Actors Hour, whose mission statement is to empower emerging artists and to ?create an open space for creatives to share what they love.? After a while, a friend of mine pointed out a man sitting in a booth. It was Harvey Weinstein, surrounded by a cadre of young women and two bodyguards. He wasn?t hiding. He came to watch young artists be vulnerable on stage. The show started, and no one said anything. At first I didn?t think it was him. There was no way. But then a comic got on stage and called out to the crowd to address ?the elephant in the room.? As soon as she alluded to his presence in the room the event organizers, the bartenders, and a number of others booed her into silence. She continued her set, stunned into compliance. — Weinstein was at the Actors Hour event (Picture: Zoe Stuckless)

Last night I was booked to perform stand-up on a variety show at Downtime Bar NYC in Lower East Side, sponsored by an organization for artists Actor's Hour - A Speakeasy for Artists! (Fundraiser Underground Edition) They film their events, and it seemed like a great opportunity for me to get a tape. I brought my new 10 min. set, excited to work it out in a warm room of my peers. Instead I found the boogeyman himself, Harvey Weinstein, sitting at a reserved table with his friends. He was INVITED by Actors Hour?I?m told that he was specifically invited by their founder, Alexandra Laliberte. I saw he was there right away, but no one in the room was saying anything out loud. I learned from a whisper that Weinstein was invited to Actors Hour?s last event as well, and that he would not be asked to leave. A few audience members seemed terrified into silence while others were unaffected or even seemed to admire him. The few performers before me said nothing about it on stage. I whispered to an audience member, ?I have to say something, right?? She said ?No, don?t?? and looked away. At this point I was in total shock, but I really really wanted to get this new tape! I got on stage and tried my best to address him before carrying on with my set. I l was boo?d and told to ?shut up? by men in the back of the room. I was shaking and hot-faced the entire time, in a traumatized state from my own experiences as a survivor of rape. I?ve literally had nightmares about seeing Harvey Weinstein in New York, the way I have nightmares about Stephen King?s It or Freddy Krueger. And he was 50 feet away from me, staring with shark eyes, surrounded by his allies. After I went up, the next few performers also did not address It. One comic seemed to want to make fun of ME by saying ?I?d like to address an elephant in the room too. Is the producer of Goodwill Hunting here? — Kelly Bachman addressed the Freddy Krueger in the room (Picture: Facebook)

She continued: ‘Sorry, that killed at group therapy for rape survivors. I have been raped, surprisingly not by anyone here, and I’ve never been able to confront those guys, so just a general “F*** you”.’

According to Stuckless, who spoke to Vulture, later in the event, a male comedian started his set by saying: ‘We gotta talk about the elephant in the room. Yeah, who’s the elephant that produced Good Will Hunting? Cause that s*** was amazing!’

Stuckless later went up to Weinstein’s table; in a video shared to their Facebook, they could be seen screaming at him and saying: ‘Nobody’s going to say anything? Nobody’s really going to say anything?’

They were asked to leave the venue.

Amber Rollo tweeted about the event, writing: ‘I was shocked to see him out, but not because I thought he would have shame, he is a sociopath and clearly has no shame. I’m shocked because he was invited to an event put on by and for artists.

‘Downtime Bar NYC, you might remember it as Mockingbird in LES, allowed this man to stay at this event put on by Actors Hour. Actors Hour and the woman who runs it Alexandra Laliberte apparently invited Harvey Weinstein.

‘Not only was he invited he was supported. My friend and bad ass comedian @bellykachman was performing on the show and when she went after “Freddy Krueger” SHE was booed and told to shut up.’

She alleged that she called Weinstein a ‘f***ing monster and told him he should disappear’, adding: ‘His friend/body guard/goon/family member called me a c*** and I really really wanted to lunge over the table and strangle him.

‘I restrained myself, now that I’m sober I no longer throw drinks or fists. There was a woman at the table with him who gently guided me out. I don’t know who she is but I hope she is ok.’

A rep for Weinstein said: ‘Harvey Weinstein was out with friends enjoying the music and trying to find some solace in his life that has been turned upside down.

Harvey Weinstein arrives in court, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019 in New York. Weinstein's lawyers want the trial moved from New York City to Long Island or upstate New York - part of the last-minute wrangling that includes efforts by prosecutors to bolster their case with testimony from actress Annabella Sciorra, who says Weinstein raped her in the 1990s. Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) — Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex (Picture: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

‘This scene was uncalled for, downright rude and an example of how due process today is being squashed by the public, trying to take it away in the courtroom too.’

Weinstein is currently out on $1 million bail after pleading not guilty to charges of rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct charges for incidents involving two women in May 2018.

He categorically denies any allegations of non-consensual sex.

Prior to the criminal charges being taken, Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women following an expose in the New York Times in 2017.

In a now deleted Instagram post from Actors Hour, they claimed that Weinstein was not invited to the showcase.

It read: ‘In light of the events last night, we feel it is important to state that Harvey Weinstein was NOT invited by the organiser or anyone associated with this organisation.

‘We believe the people who spoke out were brave and justified and we fully encourage freedom of speech. We apologise wholeheartedly for the way the situation was handled.

‘Actor’s Hour is a free space for Artists of all kinds and we regret that last night it did not feel that way for many. For that, we are deeply sorry.

‘We sincerely hope that what we have built over the past year speaks louder than last night’s event.’

Got a showbiz story?

If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Kanye West ‘won’t sleep’ until Jesus Is King is out as fans left heartbroken over missed release date

MORE: Elton John claims George Michael ‘wanted to die and was uncomfortable being gay’

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Entertainment - Latest - Google News
October 25, 2019 at 02:00PM
https://ift.tt/368s6AC

Harvey Weinstein confronted by comedians at Actors Hour - Metro.co.uk
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2AM12Zq

Bagikan Berita Ini

Search

Harvey Weinstein confronted by comedians at Actors Hour - Metro.co.uk

Got a showbiz story?

0 Response to "Harvey Weinstein confronted by comedians at Actors Hour - Metro.co.uk"

Post a Comment