Lupita Nyong’o is the latest star to make allegations against Harvey Weinstein

Lupita Nyong’o has become the latest star to come forward with allegations concerning Harvey Weinstein’s inappropriate behaviour. In an article for The New York Times, she says, “I had shelved my experience with Harvey far in the recesses of my mind, joining in the conspiracy of silence that has allowed this predator to prowl for so many years. I had felt very much alone when these things happened, and I had blamed myself for a lot of it.”

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After meeting Harvey at an awards ceremony in 2011 as a student, Lupita was invited by the producer to attend a film screening with his family at his home. According to her account, around 15 minutes into the film, Harvey – who is currently facing allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from dozens of women – said he wanted to ‘show her something’. He led her into his bedroom and asked Lupita to give him a massage.

“I thought he was joking at first. He was not,” says Lupita. “For the first time since I met him, I felt unsafe. I panicked a little and thought quickly to offer to give him one instead: It would allow me to be in control physically, to know exactly where his hands were at all times.

Lupita remembers trying to keep a “semblance of professionalism” in the circumstances. “I was after all on his premises, and the members of his household, the potential witnesses, were all (strategically, it seems to me now) in a soundproof room,” she says.

Harvey Weinstein continued to pursue the young actress, inviting her to another screening, after which he arranged for them to go for drinks afterwards. Lupita describes the uncomfortable situation: “Before the starters arrived, he announced, ‘Let’s cut to the chase. I have a private room upstairs where we can have the rest of our meal.’ I was stunned. I told him I preferred to eat in the restaurant. He told me not to be so naïve. If I wanted to be an actress, then I had to be willing to do this sort of thing. He said he had dated Famous Actress X and Y and look where that had gotten them.”

After declining the invitation and leaving, Lupita swore never to work with Harvey again, and has since turned down multiple requests to appear in his productions. “I share all of this now because I know now what I did not know then,” says Lupita. “I was part of a growing community of women who were secretly dealing with harassment by Harvey Weinstein.”

Like many others who have come forward to talk about their negative experiences – not just with Harvey Weinstein, but in the film industry in general, – Lupita has called for the industry to unite against this kind of behaviour. “I hope we can form a community where a woman can speak up about abuse and not suffer another abuse by not being believed and instead being ridiculed… Though we may have endured powerlessness at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, by speaking up, speaking out and speaking together, we regain that power.”

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