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The stories being revealed from women across the world in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations are incomprehensible to say the least. To see such a large volume of actresses, actors and producers alike joining the #MeToo movement in which publically signposts stories of such abuse, shows the magnitude and reach of this issue. But like any story, the best ones are based on specific details and are engrained in our minds for us to regurgitate later on at the dinner table or to a friend in a year’s time. Jennifer Lawrence has come forward with one of these stories and it’s the detail that is disturbing and, most importantly, eye-opening.
Speaking at Elle’s aptly named Women In Hollywood event, Lawrence – who was one of the honorees of the night – recalled a harrowing encounter of an audition. “A female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much thinner than me,” she said. “We are stood side-by-side with only tape covering our privates. After that degrading and humiliating line-up, the female producer told me I should use the naked photos of myself as inspiration for my diet.”
It didn’t end there. After the audition was over, Lawrence – who is praised ten times over daily for her message of body empowerment – reported the female producer to another producer who remarked Lawrence was in fact “perfectly f***able” and “didn’t know why everyone thought she was so fat.”
The saddest part about all these stories now is the actresses felt they were unable to say anything for fear of losing their jobs – and now feel guilt for being compliant. Lawrence said she felt “trapped” by the experience and “let myself be treated a certain way because I felt I had to for my career.”
To the opening sentiment, maybe there is a silver lining in the Weinstein scandal after all. The experience of women sharing these stories of sexual misconduct in the workplace is, as Lawrence says, “oddly unifying”.
Until tomorrow, when another actress confesses her tale…
