Actress Ellen Barkin is among a number of high-profile stars who have spoken out against Terry Gilliam following controversial comments about Harvey Weinstein and those who have accused him of sexual harassment.
Barkin has gone one step further than the others in bringing forth an accusation of her own against the director.
Barkin, whose credits include The Fan, Sea of Love and Drop Dead Gorgeous, worked with Terry Gilliam on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. She tweeted “My hard won advice: never get into an elevator alone with terry gilliam” over the weekend:
My hard won advice: never get into an elevator alone with terry gilliam
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 17, 2018
The tweet was in response to an interview Gilliam recently did with Variety, in which he said that “Harvey opened the door for a few people, a night with Harvey — that’s the price you pay.”
“It is a world of victims. I think some people did very well out of meeting with Harvey and others didn’t,” he added. “The ones who did, knew what they were doing. These are adults; we are talking about adults with a lot of ambition.” He also claimed that some of the women didn’t actually suffer, but used Weinstein to further their careers, and that he knew women who walked out of meetings with the mogul before getting sexually abused.
Barkin, responding to the article, tweeted “this interview turns my stomach”
.@Variety This interview turns my stomach. terry gilliam is the last man to admonish a movement that is trying to protect women from abusive men. #MeToo https://t.co/jPnFhfB5GQ
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 17, 2018
.@Variety Ever wonder why terry gilliam is giving all these random vitriolic interviews about #metoo? honest question. click bait, i understand but even the most superficial level of due diligence would have revealed gilliam’s reputation. #MeToo
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 17, 2018
Terry Gilliam, you talk too much. #MeToo
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 17, 2018
She also tweeted later after receiving backlash for her statements: “What is it you are defending when you attack a movement whose goal is to keep women safe? I’m assuming none of you are abusers, so what are you protecting? What will you lose if i am safe?” She has continued to clap back at criticism.
What is it you are defending when you attack a movement whose goal is to keep women safe? I’m assuming none of you are abusers, so what are you protecting? What will you lose if i am safe?
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 18, 2018
According to terry gilliam ... “weinstein was exposed because he is an asshole and made a lot of enemies”,
not because he molested or raped over 80 womem.#MeToo— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) March 19, 2018
Others who have spoken out against Gilliam’s comments include Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman and Lexi Alexander.
I read it. Terry Gilliam’s comments about Harvey Weinstein are idiotic and dangerous. He wasn’t in those rooms. He doesn’t know how aggressive and violent and terrifying he was. Who is he to say it was some sort of offered deal? He should be ashamed of himself. https://t.co/pLj3V46gwu
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) March 17, 2018
Terry Gilliam may wanna turn those feelings of fear & uncertainty he’s getting from #metoo/#timesup and realize “Ohh this is how life has been for THEM til now... huh. Wow. Damn.” See? Now it’s empathy.
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) March 17, 2018
Who did Terry Gilliam have to spend a night with to get his career? Curious minds want to know.
— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) March 16, 2018