The year the dam burst on allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men
Dozens of powerful men – including the US president – stand accused of sexual misconduct, ensuring 2017 marks a watershed cultural moment
Accusations of sexual misconduct by powerful men are by no means a new phenomenon but they poured forth in 2017 on an unprecedented scale.
Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein may have been the most significant figure to have been brought down as a result, with the sheer number of allegations against him leading to a critical mass. But the #MeToo moment could arguably be traced back to the election of Donald Trump last year, in spite of the notorious Access Hollywood tape in which he bragged about sexual assault.
The damage inflicted on Trump as a result is hard to measure – he was still elected, after all. But it is impossible to ignore the heightened awareness promoted by the subsequent allegations against others.
Watch: Harvey Weinstein sex scandal
Ben Affleck: the Batman star appeared on late-night television to explain the deluge of accusations against Weinstein, but he was also accused of groping several women. Indeed, former MTV host Hilarie Burton recalled Affleck “tweaking” her breast during a live taping in 2003.
Casey Affleck: the younger Affleck brother won an Academy Award earlier this year for his performance in Manchester By The Sea but his rise to fame was stalked by allegations of sexual assault dating back to 2010. It remains to be seen whether he will be invited to present the Best Actress award in 2018.
