Will the Celebrity Language During Awards Shows Switch to an Attack on Sexual Assault Rather Than the Nation’s Leaders? Doubtful, Says Culture Expert Dr. Alex McFarland
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Since a scathing New York Times exposé about Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein and his sexual misconduct against multitudes of women, the floodgates have opened, and now women in several entertainment industries are sharing their own sexual harassment experiences.
For several days after the original accusations against Weinstein came to light, Hollywood was surprisingly mum, says religion and culture expert Dr. Alex McFarland (www.AlexMcFarland.com), who also serves as Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at the Christian Worldview Center of North Greenville University in Greenville, S.C.
As the days wore on, McFarland said, celebrities and pals of Weinstein may have been guilted into calling him out for his alleged wrongdoings. But will the culture in Hollywood really change?
“Over 10 days or so since the Harvey Weinstein first broke, we’ve seen celebrity after celebrity finally come forward to denounce the Hollywood exec’s disgusting behavior,” McFarland said. “But the silence was deafening at first. As we’ve seen from the awards shows over the past year, celebrities are rarely silent—very vocal on everything from bashing the President of the United States to touting universal health care. But I wonder how long the outrage about something that has gone on for decades in Hollywood will remain? Will there be a steady stream of award winners at the next opulent ceremony attacking their own industry? Sadly, I doubt it. And sexual assault and sexual harassment desperately need the attention of outspoken voices. I hope this headline-du-jour is not a passing fancy and simply the ‘hot topic’ of the day—but that real change takes place.”
McFarland is the author of 20 books, including his newest, “Stand Strong in Your Faith,” co-authored with Jason Jimenez, which provides Christians with insight and encouragement to keep the faith during the toughest times of life, as well as “Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Home,” also co-authored with Jimenez, which explores why millennials are leaving the church.
View the media page for Alex McFarland here. For more information on Dr. Alex McFarland, visit www.AlexMcFarland.com or follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @AlexMcFarland.
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