#MeToo after Harvey Weinstein: List of sexual harassment scandals 2018

On Oct. 5, 2017, the New York Times published a report against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein revealing claims of rape or sexual harassment of dozens of women. Some 80 women, including prominent actresses, have come forward since.

Weinstein was ousted as CEO of his company, which filed for bankruptcy in March. On Friday, law enforcement officials said he will face criminal sex act and rape charges. He plead not guilty to charges of rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct, his attorney, Benjamin Braffman, said.

Soon after the Times' report, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, "If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet." The hashtag #MeToo spread like wildfire online with more than 500,000 mentions on Twitter and 12 million times on Facebook in the first 24 hours alone. It was a rallying cry for women and men who have experienced some type of sexual harassment or assault.

Since then, multiple high-profile men (Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, Roy Moore) in media, politics and beyond have faced allegations ranging from inappropriate behavior to forced sexual misconduct to rape.

Some — but not all — have been ousted from their companies or resigned themselves amid the allegations.

A timeline of publicly reported sexual misconduct scandals against high-profile men in 2018:

Note: This list will be updated periodically. Included is the accusation, response and aftermath for each individual named. This is not an exhaustive list of accusations.

May 23

Morgan Freeman — Actor

Accusation: CNN reported on Thursday that eight women came forward with allegations of harassment against Freeman. Two said he "subjected them to unwanted touching." Another woman who worked as a production assistant for the 2015 film "Going in Style" said he tried to life her skirt up multiple times, asking whether she was wearing underwear.

Response: "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would willingly offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy," Freeman said in the statement. "I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected -- that was never my intent."

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 23.

May 7

Eric Schneiderman — New York Attorney General

Accusation: Four women accused Schneiderman of sexual misconduct and physical abuse. The report was published in the New Yorker.

Response: In a statement, Schneiderman said, "In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity. I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in nonconsensual sex, which is a line I would not cross."

Aftermath: Three hours after the publication of the story, Schneiderman resigned from his position. "While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office's work at this critical time," he said in a statement. "I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018."

May 4

Junot Diaz — Author, MIT creative writing professor

Accusation: Writer Zinzi Clemmons accounted a forced kiss with Diaz on Twitter when she was a 26-year-old graduate student at MIT. Other women have spoken out about misogynistic and verbally abusive behavior, according to Vox. A month before writer Clemmons' tweet, Diaz published an acclaimed essay in the New Yorker that detailed the childhood abuse that shaped him.

Response: "I take responsibility for my past. That is the reason I made the decision to tell the truth of my rape and its damaging aftermath," Diaz said in a statement through his agent to the New York Times. "This conversation is important and must continue. I am listening to and learning from women's stories in this essential and overdue cultural movement. We must continue to teach all men about consent and boundaries."

Aftermath: Diaz resigned as chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board, the Cambridge Public Library canceled its annual Summer Reading Kick-Off featuring Diaz and MIT has launched an investigation.

April 4

Nicholas Nixon — Former photographer, professor at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Accusation: According to the Boston Globe, more than a dozen former students reported inappropriate conduct, emails and said Nixon asked them to pose nude.

Response: "I encourage students to accept and use their sexuality [as] part of their putting the best they have into their work," Nixon said in an e-mail to a former Boston Globe reporter in late February. "I have never hit on, touched or done anything personal." In a later statement to the Globe, Nixon said, "I realize that I should have censored myself more. To those students, I offer my profound apology."

Aftermath: Nixon abruptly retired from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design amid an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior, the school announced on March 22.

March 29

John Kricfalusi — Creator of “The Ren & Stimpy Show”

Accusation: According to a report from BuzzFeed News and subsequent interviews with The New York Times, two women have accused Kricfalusi of sexual misconduct with teenagers in the 1990s. One of the women, Robyn Byrd, said he first wrote to her when she was 14 and then touched her genitals through her pajamas at age 16. Kricfalusi is about 15 years older than Byrd.

Response: He admitted to having a 16-year-old girlfriend in the 1990s.

A statement from Kricfalusi's lawyer Daniel Perlman to BuzzFeed News: "The 1990s were a time of mental and emotional fragility for Mr. Kricfalusi, especially after losing 'Ren & Stimpy,' his most prized creation. For a brief time, 25 years ago, he had a 16-year-old girlfriend. Over the years John struggled with what were eventually diagnosed mental illnesses in 2008. To that point, for nearly three decades he had relied primarily on alcohol to self-medicate. Since that time he has worked feverishly on his mental health issues, and has been successful in stabilizing his life over the last decade. This achievement has allowed John the opportunity to grow and mature in ways he'd never had a chance at before." Kricfalusi also penned this controversial 11-page letter posted on his Facebook page.

Aftermath: Both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim said they would not work with Kricfalusi in the future. Nickelodeon also removed Kricfalusi's portrait from the studio.

March 5

Sherman Alexie — Native American author

Accusation: Ten women spoke to NPR about inappropriate comments to unwanted sexual advances and consensual sexual relations. One writer, Erika Wurth, said Alexie tried to kiss her and told her to come to his room, which she did. She told him she was inexperienced and a virgin, but she believes that he only stopped touching her when he realized he'd have to rape her to continue.

Response: Alexie issued a public apology, but denied the accusations made by writer Litsa Dremousis, whose tweets prompted the women to come forward. "Over the years, I have done things that have harmed other people, including those I love most deeply. To those whom I have hurt, I genuinely apologize." Read the full statement here.

Aftermath: According to NPR, the Institute of American Indian Arts changed the name of its Sherman Alexie Scholarship to the M.F.A. Alumni Scholarship.

Feb. 28

Jeff Franklin — Former “Fuller House” showrunner

Accusation: According to Variety, multiple staffers on the set of "Fuller House" accused Franklin of being verbally abusive and making sexually charged comments. A source also said he also had a habit of giving women he dated parts in the series.

Response: No public response to the allegations. But Franklin did speak out about being "heartbroken to be leaving" the show.

Aftermath: Franklin is out as showrunner of Netflix's "Fuller House" and Warner Bros. TV declined to renew its overall deal.

Feb. 22

Philip Berk — Former president of Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Accusation: In 2003, actor Brendan Fraser alleges Berk sexually assaulted him. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around," he said about an incident following a Hollywood Foreign Press Association luncheon. The actor recalled feeling afraid, like a little kid and that he was on the verge of tears. He believes the HFPA blacklisted him in retaliation. Fraser detailed the account in his memoir and in a candid interview for GQ.

Response: "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication," Berk said in an e-mail to GQ. He denies HFPA retaliation. "My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual 'If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was it was not intended and I apologize.'"

Aftermath: The HFPA launched an investigation.

Feb. 21

Daniel Handler — Author known as Lemony Snicket

Accusation: Handler has been accused by a number of women working in children's literature of inappropriate sexual comments, according to the Pacific Standard. The accusations came under the spotlight after Handler signed a pledge launched by author Gwenda Bond stating that authors that don't adopt and enforce harassment policies can't attend conferences. Other authors commented on the pledge with their inappropriate accounts with Handler.

Response: "It has never been my wish to insult any of my professional colleagues," he wrote in response to the accusations on the pledge. "My whole life my sense of humor has not been for everyone, and my books continue to be regarded, by a segment of the population, as inappropriate … I take seriously the responsibilities of my visibility, and have always thought that treating all of my colleagues the same was the best way to dispel the unease that can come from a competitive or self-conscious environment … I am listening and willing to listen; I am learning and willing to learn."

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 14.

Feb. 16

Patrick Demarchelier — Photographer

Accusation: The Boston Globe published a report featuring several staffers accusing photographers of sexual exploitation and abuse, including Demarchelier. At least 25 photographers, agents, stylists, casting directors and other industry professionals came forward about Demarchelier. Several women reported unwanted sexual advances, including groping breasts, thrusting hands onto models' genitals and other vulgar propositions. According to the Globe, one teenage model said Demarchelier allegedly asked her if he could lick her genitals.

Response: "People lie and they tell stories," Demarchelier said in a statement to the Globe. "It's ridiculous." He added that he has "never, never, never" touched a model inappropriately and called the accusations "pure lying" by models who "get frustrated if they don't work."

Aftermath: Conde Nast, a media conglomerate that includes Vogue, Glamour, and GQ, stopped working for now with Demarchelier.

Greg Kadel — Photographer

Accusation: The Boston Globe published a report featuring several models accusing photographers of sexual exploitation and abuse, including Kadel. One of the five models the Globe spoke to about Kadel was still in high school when she recalled the first incident. She was at a fashion party her agent took her to where adults gave her cocaine and alcohol. Kadel was asked to take her home, but allegedly took her to a hotel room, pushed her against the wall and had sex with her. The model told her agent, who said not to tell anyone and that what happened may help her career. Kadel helped her land gigs with Victoria's Secret and continued harassment until she refused, ending her career with the company. Kadel also took topless photographs of her as a minor.

Response: "Greg has never done that. He's dated some girls and that's happened. It's all consensual between adults. He's never used his power in any way that is unbecoming," Ernesto Qualizza, an agent for Kadel, said. Kadel believes the encounters reported by the Globe were consensual or misinterpreted.

Aftermath: Conde Nast, a media conglomerate that includes Vogue, Glamour, and GQ, stopped working for now with Kadel. Following an investigation, Victoria's Secret said it suspended its relationship with him.

Andre Passos — Photographer

Accusation: The Boston Globe published a report featuring several models accusing photographers of sexual exploitation and abuse, including Passos. Former model Dasha Alexander said that when she was 15, Passos inserted his fingers into her vagina while taking her photo 20 years ago. He told her it would give the photos "more emotion."

Response: He denied any allegations and said he went to court for this and was not guilty. The Globe could not locate any court records. Passos texted the statement to the Globe from Brazil. "I have already suffered enough consequences out of this absurd story. … I was a victim as well as the model was a victim of her parents and agency to send her out in the world in such a tender age in the hands of an evil industry," he said. "An industry that never knew how [to] educate [these] girls, that only looked at profit and fame no matter what."

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 14.

Seth Sabal — Photographer

Accusation: The Boston Globe published a report featuring several models accusing photographers of sexual exploitation and abuse, including Sabal. Three models accused Sabal of sexual harassment. One of the women said at age 16, she was given alcohol and asked to take off her underwear as Sabal allegedly took photos up her skirt.

Response: "He can unequivocally say that he never has taken any nude photos of an underage model, he never sexually harassed anyone and never forced anyone to do something they weren't comfortable with. If anyone who felt uncomfortable with any requests that have been made, he does apologize. He never coerced, forced or in any way intimidated anyone to do anything against their will," Sabal's attorney Carlos Carvajal said.

Aftermath: Sabal, who is semi-retired, hasn't lost any jobs as a result of the Boston Globe report, according to his attorney.

David Bellemere — Photographer

Accusation: The Boston Globe published a report featuring several models accusing photographers of sexual exploitation and abuse, including Bellemere. Women said the renowned photographer forcibly stuck his tongue down their mouths

Response: "I've never been taking advantage [of models]," he said in a statement to the Boston Globe. "This is not true. I've never done anything like this in my life."

Aftermath: Multiple companies, including Victoria's Secret and Lord & Taylor, haven't hired Bellemere in recent years as models came out with complaints.

Feb. 2

Vincent Cirrincione — Talent manager

Accusation: The Hollywood talent manager who helped Halle Berry and Taraji Henson rise to fame was accused by nine minority women of sexual harassment. One stage actress, Tamika Lamison, told the Washington Post that in June 1996, Cirrincione said he would take her on as a client if he could have sex with her whenever he wanted.

Response: Cirrincione denied allegations of trading sexual favors for representation but said he did pursue sexual relationships with the actresses. "I have had affairs while in committed relationships, ones I am now ashamed to say are coming to light and shading my past and my reputation. I can say without a doubt that I have never used favors, sexual or otherwise, as a reason for managing anyone. I want to make it clear that not one of those relationships were anything but consensual," he said.

Aftermath: Cirrincione shut down his company, Vincent Cirrincione Associates, following the Washington Post report. "It is with incredibly great sadness that at this time, I believe it's in the best interests of all my actors and actresses that I represent to close my management company," Cirrincione said a statement to Deadline. "This business is hard enough and I don't want to distract in any way from their careers or opportunities in the entertainment field. I wish all the people I represent the very best in all their future endeavors."

Feb. 1

Paul Marciano — GUESS co-founder

Accusation: In a series of tweets, model Kate Upton accused Marciano of sexually and emotionally harassing women. According to Business of Fashion, Marciano has previously been accused of sexual misconduct by two other women.

Response: Marciano denied all the allegations.

Aftermath: The Guess, Inc. board of directors has not been able to determine that the accusations have merit following an investigation, according to a company statement.

Jan. 27

Scott Baio — Actor

Accusation: In an interview with Megyn Kelly, actress Nicole Eggert accused her former co-star Scott Baio of molesting her when she was a minor on the set of "Charles in Charge." She was 14 years old when the sexual abuse started, she said. Eggert said the two first had sexual intercourse when she was 17. Baio is more than 11 years older than her.

Response: Baio has denied the allegations and defended himself on Facebook Live shortly after. He said the allegations were "lies" and says Eggert "seduced" him. "If you have a real claim, you go to the real people, not social media, where people like me get beat up," Baio said in his Facebook Live video.

Aftermath: Other castmates, Alexander Polinsky and Adam Carl, recalled Baio's inappropriate behavior on set and came to Eggert's defense. She and her attorney said they are exploring all legal options.

Jan. 25

David Copperfield — Magician

Accusation: According to The Wrap, model Brittney Lewis said that whens he was 17 years old, Copperfield drugged and assaulted her in 1988 after a modeling contest he judged.

Response: Copperfield denied the allegations and said his life has been turned "upside down" by false allegations of assault in the past. "While I weather another storm, I want the [#MeToo] movement to continue to flourish. Always listen, and consider everything carefully, but please for everyone's sake don't rush to judgment," he said in a statement.

Aftermath: Lewis said she has no plans to pursue a criminal or civil suit against Copperfield, but even if she wanted to the statute of limitations would prevent her, according to The Wrap.

Jan. 18

Michael Douglas — Actor

Accusation: Journalist and author Susan Braudy told the Hollywood Reporter that in the late '80s, while she ran the New York office of Stonebridge Productions, Douglas masturbated in her presence during a one-on-one script meeting in his apartment. He is also accused of sexually charged dialogue.

Response: "That was completely untrue," Douglas told Deadline and Hollywood Reporter about Braudy's claims that he masturbated in front of her before firing her in retaliation. "I'd confess to anything I thought I was responsible for," he says. "And it was most certainly not masturbating in front of this woman. This reeks." He did, however, acknowledge inappropriate discussions. "Maybe she is disgruntled her career didn't go the way she hoped and she is holding this grudge," he said.

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 14.

Jan 16.

Seal — Singer

Accusation: Actress Tracey Birdsall accused Seal of sexual battery and groping shortly after the singer encouraged women to come forward about their stories of sexual misconduct. According to TMZ, Birdsall said in November 2016, Seal lunged at her and tried to kiss her while the two were in his kitchen. She said he then belittled her for the tank top she was wearing and began groping her breasts.

Response: A representative from Seal's team said, "Seal vehemently denies the recent allegations made against him by a former neighbor for alleged misconduct more than a year ago. He intends to vigorously defend himself against these false allegations."

Aftermath: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed that it launched an investigation into sexual battery allegations against Seal.

Jan. 13

Aziz Ansari — Actor, comedian

Accusation: An anonymous woman tells her account of a sexual encounter with Ansari to Babe.net, accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Response: Ansari released a statement on January 14 in which he said they "engag[ed] in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual," but when he "heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned."

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 11.

Mario Testino — Photographer

Accusation: In the same publication as the accusations against Weber, the New York Times reported 13 assistants and models accused Testino of unwanted advances and coercion during photo shoots and other private sessions.

Response: Lawyers representing Testino challenged the character and credibility of people who complained of harassment. His attorney told the Associated Press, "We are not providing any further comment at this time."

Aftermath: According to Hollywood Reporter, Conde Nast, which publishes "Vogue" and other top magazines, said it would stop working with Weber and Testino for now.

Bruce Weber — Photographer

Accusation: Fifteen current and former male models told the New York Times their experiences with Weber reflected a pattern of "unnecessary nudity and coercive sexual behavior, often during photo shoots." "I remember him putting his fingers in my mouth, and him grabbing my privates," model Robyn Sinclair told the Times. "We never had sex or anything, but a lot of things happened. A lot of touching. A lot of molestation."

Response: "I'm completely shocked and saddened by the outrageous claims being made against me, which I absolutely deny," Weber said in a statement from his lawyer.

Aftermath: According to Hollywood Reporter, Conde Nast, which publishes "Vogue" and other top magazines, said it would stop working with Weber and Testino for now.

Jan. 11

James Franco — Actor

Accusation: Accused by five women of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior. The Los Angeles Times reported four of the women were his students at a school he founded, Studio 4. The fifth said he was her mentor. One of the former students, Sarah Tither-Kaplan, told The Times that during a nude orgy scene she filmed with Franco and other women, he removed protective plastic guards covering the actresses' vaginas while performing oral sex on them.

Response: In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Franco said: "Look, in my life I pride myself on taking responsibility for things that I have done. I have to do that to maintain my well being. The things that I heard that were on Twitter are not accurate. But I completely support people coming out and being able to have a voice because they didn't have a voice for so long. So I don't want to shut them down in any way. If I have done something wrong, I will fix it — I have to."

Aftermath: After the women came forward, Franco was snubbed for an Oscar nomination and removed from the "Vanity Fair" Hollywood issue cover.

Jan. 9

Stan Lee — Former editor-in-chief, publisher, chairman of Marvel Comics

Accusation: Several allegations of sexual assault and harassment by nurses caring for him at his home in Hollywood Hills. According to the Daily Mail, 95-year-old Lee allegedly groped and harassed the nurses and is said to have asked for oral sex in the shower. Months later, in April, a Chicago massage therapist said Lee fondled himself and inappropriately grabbed her during arranged massages in 2017.

Response: Lee denied all allegations. His lawyer told DailyMail.com that Lee fully intends to clear his "stellar good name." In response to the April Chicago masseuse allegations, Jonathan Freund, an attorney for Lee told the Chicago Tribune, "He is a high-profile public figure and I think it's a shakedown. The guy is 95, I don't think he would do that."

Aftermath: The nursing company employing the nurses is in a legal dispute with Lee. As for the lawsuit from the masseuse, Lee's attorney said he was not aware of a criminal investigation and said the allegations might be part of "a shakedown."

Jan. 5

Paul Haggis — Oscar-winning director and screenwriter

Accusation: A civil lawsuit charged Haggis with raping a publicist and prompted three more women to come forward with sexual misconduct accusations, including another forced sex act. The accounts were reported by the Associated Press.

Response: Haggis has vehemently denied the accusations and said the original accuser and her lawyer had demanded a $9 million payment to avoid legal action, which he characterized as extortion. Haggis' lawyer Christine Lepera added that her client is also questioning whether the accusations are driven by Scientologists that Haggis claims have attacked him for years with false accusations. The AP noted that each of the women interviewed denied any connection to the organization.

Aftermath: Nothing of note as of May 11.

Ben Vereen — Tony Award-winning actor

Accusation: According to a report from the New York Daily News, Vereen is accused of sexual misconduct by two actresses during his production of "Hair." Women said he invited female cast members to his home and provoked them into performing sex acts. The actor is also accused of inappropriate conduct and talk during rehearsals in which cast members stripped naked.

Response: "I would like to apologize directly to the female cast members of the musical 'Hair' for my inappropriate conduct when I directed the production in 2015," Vereen said in a statement. "While it was my intention to create an environment that replicated the themes of that musical during the rehearsal process, I have since come to understand that it is my conduct, not my intentions, which are relevant here. So I am not going to make any excuses because the only thing that matters here is acknowledging and apologizing for the effects of my conduct on the lives of these women. Going forward, my having come to terms with my past conduct will inform all my future interactions not only with women, but with all individuals. I hope these women will find it in their hearts to accept my sincere apology and forgive me."

Aftermath: Venice Theatre leadership addressed the allegations in a separate statement. "We have learned recently that during our 2015 production of 'Hair,' more than one female cast member was asked to join Mr. Vereen at his residence. Some of those visits resulted in compromising situations for at least two of the actresses." The theater said it was also working to strength its policies and procedures regarding sexual harassment. According to the New York Times, touring production group Broadway San Diego cut ties to Vereen, whose name was on an awards program rewarding outstanding local high school performers, shortly after the report was publicized.

Jan. 2

Dan Harmon — Creator of “Community” and “Rick and Morty”

Accusation: Former "Community" writer Megan Ganz accused Harmon of sexually harassing her during her time working on the series.

Response: Following a Twitter dialogue between him and Ganz, Harmon issued a detailed apology on an episode of his podcast, "Harmontown." He said: "I lied to myself the entire time about it. And I lost my job. I ruined my show. I betrayed the audience. I destroyed everything and I damaged her internal compass, he said. "And I moved on. I've never done it before and I will never do it again, but I certainly wouldn't have been able to do it if I had any respect for women. On a fundamental level, I was thinking about them as different creatures. I was thinking about the ones that I liked as having some special role in my life and I did it all by not thinking about it." Read the full apology at Time.com.

Aftermath: After reading Harmon's lengthy apology, Ganz said responded on Twitter. "Dan Harmon, I forgive you," she wrote.

About the Author

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Fiza Pirani

Fiza Pirani is an Atlanta-based freelance writer and editor.

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