Oprah Winfrey Sees This as a "Silver Lining" to the Harvey Weinstein Allegations
The talk show host, who suffered sexual abuse during her childhood, offers her perspective on the scandal.
After film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct, a widespread conversation struck up in Hollywood and beyond. From countless celebrities speaking out to the widespread #MeToo movement on social media, the past couple of weeks have shone a light on the pervasiveness of sexual harassment. And according to Oprah Winfrey, the frank — if painful — discussion represents a positive step forward.
Addressing the Weinstein scandal on CBS This Morning, the television icon said: "I’m always trying to look for the rainbow in the cloud, whatever is the silver lining. And this is what I do know for sure: Something this major happens, when you have the fallout, 50 women coming forward, that it’s a watershed moment."
Winfrey — who has also been traumatized by sexual assault — had previously addressed Weinstein's "hideous behavior" on her Facebook page.
But Winfrey was quick to point out on CBS This Morning that the "watershed moment" is not just about the disgraced movie mogul. "If we make this just about Harvey Weinstein, then we will have lost this moment,” she said.
Later, Winfrey added: “I think this is a moment, where no matter what business you work in, the women who not only had the disease to please, that’s a part of it, but who felt that in order to keep my job, to keep my position, in order to keep moving forward … I’ve got to smile. I’ve got to look the other way. I’ve got to pretend he didn’t say that. He didn’t touch me. Those days are about to be over."
