We as Nigerians underestimate just how much influence the West has on us.

We especially underestimate the power the media has, and especially what is broadly referred to as ‘Hollywood’, the interconnected television, film, stage and music industries that churn out a huge chunk of the content that we consume in the 21st century.

We make the assumption that those at the helm of affairs in that industry can do no wrong. The reality, however, is much different. We found this out in 2015 when actor and comedian Bill Cosby was exposed as a serial predator who raped dozens of women using chemical enhancers.

We found out in 2016 that Donald Trump, the president of the United States had admitted on tape to sexually assaulting women by grabbing their vaginas.

We found out that film director Woody Allen raped his step daughter when she was a child and married another step daughter after raising her, and we forgave him and accused his victims.

And now, we are learning about Harvey Weinstein, yet another predator.

Ronan Farrow, the journalist who broke this new story about Harvey Weinstein, film director and former of Miramax Studios and the Harvey Weinstein company has a personal reason for following this story to its logical end.

As a child, his sister, Dylan Farrow was sexually assaulted by her father Woody Allen and even though him and his mother, actress Mia Farrow confirmed the assault, nothing has been done to Allen and he continues to make movies and earn respect and privilege in the film industry. For Farrow, proving irrevocably that other women were also victims of a predator was a mission he took seriously. Farrow speaks to several high profile actresses about Weinstein’s sexual misconduct, harassment and rape, including actress Rose McGowan who was raped at 23. It is a harrowing but important story to read, if not for anything but to remind ourselves just how much the system is rigged to silence women who are raped or suffer sexual assault.

Read Ronan’s important work here. 

Editor