Meryl Streep slams Harvey Weinstein at women's conference
BOSTON — Meryl Streep called out former colleague Harvey Weinstein at a women's conference. The actress said she and others are planning to make a series of "non-negotiable" demands in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations that have rocked Hollywood, media and politics.
Streep made the comments in a conversation with feminist icon Gloria Steinem at the Massachusetts Women's Conference in Boston.
Streep on Thursday also called the allegations against Weinstein "the most gargantuan example of disrespect" permeating every industry. When accusations against the producer first emerged in October, Streep called the reports "disgraceful" in a statement Monday to the Huffington Post and added, "The behavior is inexcusable but the abuse of power familiar." She praised "the intrepid women who raised their voices."
Streep also said that she never personally witnessed any inappropriate behavior from him, saying, he was "respectful with me in our working relationship." She and Weinstein worked together on several films, including "The Iron Lady," for which Streep received an Oscar. In her acceptance speech, she called Weinstein "God."
On Thursday, Streep said women still don't have enough representation in leadership positions and that impacts how decisions are made. Streep said women in the entertainment industry are prepared to demand for equal representation in board rooms and other improvements to the American workplace.
"We are after 50/50 by 2020," she said to loud applause. "Equal means equal. And if it starts at the top, none of these shenanigans would have filtered down and it wouldn't have been tolerated."
"It's such an interesting moment, because this conversation about why this is so widespread, this is really worth having and it's fantastic," she said. "I can't help thinking it's just a door that's opening to a better world."
The 13th annual conference, which organizers say was attended by a record 16,000 people, also featured speeches from Academy Award-winning actor Viola Davis and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.
At the two-day conference's opening night Wednesday, Steinem took a shot at President Donald Trump, calling the billionaire the "harasser in chief."
More than a dozen women have said or harassed them over the years. He has denied the allegations.