Kevin Smith will Donate Residuals from Weinstein-Produced films to Women in the Business
While the news of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein was a shock to some, it seemed almost more shocking that so many people in the industry actually knew it was happening. If they didn’t know for certain, they had an inclination or a pretty real reason to believe that it was.
It hits everyone hard when you hear stories about sexual assault, but those who have worked closely with Weinstein are really feeling wronged right now. So many people in the business saw him as a larger than life hero, while he was everything but.
Kevin Smith is the latest celebrity to speak out against Weinstein and the way he reacted proves how shocked, and hurt, he has been since the news broke.
My entire career is tied up with the man.It’s been a weird f—— week. I just wanted to make some f—— movies, that’s it. That’s why I came, that’s why I made ‘Clerks.’ And no f—— movie is worth all this. Like, my entire career, f— it, take it. It’s wrapped up in something really f—— horrible.”
When someone told Kevin that it wasn’t his fault, he proceeded to let his listeners know that he isn’t looking for sympathy but that he was almost blinded by everything that he believed Weinstein was.
I’m not looking for sympathy. I know it’s not my fault, but I didn’t f—— help. Because I sat out there talking about this man like he was a hero, like he was my friend, like he was my father and s— like that, and he changed my f—— life. And I showed other people, like, ‘You can dream, and you can make stuff, and this man will put it out.’ I was singing praises of somebody that I didn’t f—— know.
Many of Kevin’s films were produced with Weinstein, so the betrayal he feels runs very deep. He has since pledged to give everything he makes from those films to women in film, forever. That statement means a lot because Weinstein’s company may very well fall apart. Even then, Kevin says he’ll give 2,000 a month to women in the industry, always.
While most of what’s in the media right now hurt to read, stories like this show a glimmer of something good again. It’s men like Kevin who are willing to speak out against Weinstein and to then do something about it that matter.
‘…but I knew him’
