Streep Tries Weinstein Defense, Blames Melania, Ivanka Trump
Remember the time Harvey Weinstein penned the worst public apology of the 21st century?
The mega producer and Democratic bundler issued a mea culpa in October following reports he sexually harassed several starlets. Weinstein vaguely admitted he behaved badly, but then he went for his ace in the hole. He pleaded with his fellow Democrats to forgive him.
Why?
They’re all on the same side.
I am going to need a place to channel that anger, so I’ve decided that I’m going to give the NRA my full attention. I hope Wayne LaPierre will enjoy his retirement party. I’m going to do it at the same I had my Bar Mitzvah. I’m making a movie about our President, perhaps we can make it a joint retirement party.
It didn’t work. Nothing could have saved him once the flow of accusations started. Still, even like-minded souls saw the defense as pathetic.
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Now, Oscar winner Meryl Streep is taking a page out of that unsuccessful playbook. The actress is out promoting “The Post,” a film recalling The Washington Post’s fight to print the Pentagon Papers (after rivals at The New York Times did so first).
But Streep keeps getting dragged into the Weinstein scandal. At first, Hollywood observers demanded she say something about the man she once famously called “god.” Others suggested Streep, an industry insider for decades, must have known about the producer’s behavior. If so … why didn’t she speak up?
Making matters worse?
Conservative artist Sabo created an art installation in L.A. featuring Streep’s face covered by the words, “She Knew.” The bad buzz made an impact. The insinuations damaged her brand in the eyes of her fans.
Streep repeatedly has denied knowing anything about Weinstein’s predatory ways. And she seems miffed that her name is connected to the scandal. That attitude led to this exchange with The New York Times about her new film and, of course, the Weinstein fallout.
NYTIMES: What do you make of the fact, though, that people are waiting for you to speak [on the Weinstein matter]?
STREEP I don’t want to hear about the silence of me. I want to hear about the silence of Melania Trump. I want to hear from her. She has so much that’s valuable to say. And so does Ivanka. I want her to speak now.
Clearly Streep hopes name checking two female members of Trump family will take some of the heat off of her. Good luck. Later, she shares that obvious truth that today’s actors have bully pulpits. And she doesn’t reject the responsibility.
It’s great to be asked to step up because you know what, everybody should.
That may be true, but people with cultural clout should have better responses to hot-button issues.