Last month actor and former NFL football player Terry Crews spoke out about a “sexual assault” against him by a high level Hollywood executive (an agent) who groped him one night at a party.
Yesterday on Good Morning America Crews spoke out once again about the man: Adam Venit, the head of William Morris Endeavor’s motion picture group and his poor sense of aim when Terry stuck out his hand for a friendly shake this time upping the gropes to more than the one he originally stated when he came forward and saying that this time he pushed him away “forcefully”.
“I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it, and squeezes my genitals. And I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey!’ … I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? And then he comes back again and he just won’t stop. And then I really got forceful, pushed him back. He bumps into all the other partygoers and he starts giggling and laughing. I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified. I went over to Adam [Sandler] right then and there and said, ‘Man, come get your boy. What is his problem?’”
Added Crews:
“When the Weinstein thing started happening I got PTSD. I was going, ‘Oh my god, this exact thing happened to me.’ I understand why they won’t come forward. … When a person of power breaks that boundary and violates that boundary, you’re a prisoner of war.”
Adam Venit who also represents Adam Sandler, Emma Stone, Diane Keaton, Eddie Murphy, and others took a leave of absence from William Morris after being accused by Crews.
You really have to wonder considering that it was a grope and with Crews being such large intimidating man that if there might be some internalized homophobia involved? Boundaries were broken yes. But there could have been no physical threat against him (Crews is 6′ 3″, Weight 245 lbs) and Venit doesn’t even represent him. Would Crews be coming forward and being all the diva snowflake if a female agent had done this to him, even an ugly old gorgon? Or would it be forgotten or something he and Sandler would occasionally have a private laugh about?
Right now I’m afraid to re-watch “White Chicks” where Crews is objectified as a well endowed black man including close ups of his crotch.
I don’t want to further aggravate his PTSD.
Somebody needs a dish of kitty chow.
Meow
I am sorry, like Will I find this a bit hard to swallow. (no pun intended). As I have posted previously. These situations I think are more fueled by “homophobia” rather than a true sexual intent. ie. The ass slapping /grabbing that goes on during male sports. Would those be deemed as sexual harassment in 20 years? In the cold light of hindsight will we have a rush to the psych offices for “PTSD”? Will that be the “NEW” defence tactic in criminal cases? ” I was groped by a team mate in the High School” locker room, that is why I shot the guy!”
I seriously believe we are in the midst of a witch hunt. The like of that against Catholic Priests in the last decade. At the end of this “Golden” Rainbow is a pot of gold.
As someone who is gay and has been groped in a similar manner by a gay man without invitation, I mean this sincerely. Fuck you, dicksmack.
I get what you’re saying. It is insulting that he “felt emasculated” just because he was the passive object of another man’s sexual advances. Factors at play are…homophobia and traditional gender roles. Good. Got it. But leave it at that.
Because this article doesn’t have a grasp on the reality of sexual assault. We’re no longer in a Neanderthal age where resisting sexual assault is a matter of mere physicality. It’s a matter of power and social relations.
It can’t be a surprise to anyone that sexual assault and rape happens within the queer community. Why was this article written? To make excuses for sexual assault (“poor sense of aim” and “boundaries were broken, yes” my ass!)? To mock the victim because he doesn’t look like a traditional victim?
You reached for a point to make here, and maybe there was one, but you missed it by a mile. Maybe even two.