Bonus #6 Sexual Allegations and Success -- Kathleen Paxtor

When it comes to the Oscar nominations of known sexual offenders, I think that the boundaries are really blurred for people. It is hard for some people to separate the artist’s work from the actual artist’s persona. Personally, I believe that there are certain lines that one should not cross as a person and especially not be rewarded for committing crimes. When a ‘regular’, everyday person commits sexual crimes they are charged and sentenced so why should it be any different with someone who has money and success? If the allegations against Roman Polinski were committed by anyone else they would have been immediately imprisoned (for the minimum of 7 years) and their reputation tarnished. So why isn’t this the case for Roman Polinski? He remains being rewarded for his artistic visions and is still a member of the Academy even with the multiple molestation and rape accusations against him. Roman Polinski the director is the same person as Roman Polinski the child rapist. The artist’s vision and the artist themselves are the same person; their minds are one—one mind that is creatively talented but at the same time sexually sadistic.

Being successful should not overrule the crimes they have committed but unfortunately these crimes are overlooked quite often. With this new, uplifting #MeToo movement (women come out and openly admit they have been sexually abused and supported each other) has brought down many famous people but at the same time has reprimanded the women coming out. Unfortunately, for the famous person it only brings them bad media for a couple of days then nothing else happens. This goes beyond the Oscars and into Hollywood in general. For example, Ed Westwick (who played my favorite character on Gossip Girl, Chuck) had been accused with sexual allegations and for like one week it had gone viral but until this day there has been no actions taken against him. On the contrary, Hayley Freedman (the girl who accused Westwick), was the one that got a backlash. She had cofounded a business and her co-partner decided to back out because of the allegations she said against him. This is why many females are scared to open up about their experiences, because they are afraid of what might happen to them and what people will say. In a society that is learning to be more open with each other, sexual allegations should be heard and taken seriously. Regardless of who they are, everyone’s actions should be accounted for.

It does not matter if you are an Oscar-nominee or Oscar winner, I don’t care if you are the President (……) you should pay for your mistakes and the harm that you have caused. So no, the Oscars should not award sexual predators (because that is what they are) for being creative. Maybe if Hollywood would start taking these accusations more seriously then people would be more thoughtful of how they act instead of thinking that it is okay because they will get away with it.