Claire Forlani’s candid Twitter post about her experiences with Harvey Weinstein adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about sexual harassment in Hollywood. Forlani, known for her role in Boys and Girls, shared how she was repeatedly forced to dodge Weinstein’s advances during multiple meetings and dinners. Despite these uncomfortable encounters, which included suggestions of massages and crude boasting about actresses using sex to advance their careers, Forlani managed to escape unscathed.
One of the most unsettling moments she recalled was Weinstein mentioning that his private pilot was on standby, implying he could never persuade her to sleep with him. Forlani relied on humor and deflection to navigate the situations, but she admitted the toll it took on her.
In a deeply personal admission, Forlani expressed regret for not speaking out when Ronan Farrow’s investigation into Weinstein was underway. Despite having an instinctive sense of the subject matter, she was discouraged by male advice and chose silence. Later, after seeing others like Mira Sorvino bravely share their own stories, she acknowledged the weight of her decision to stay quiet.
Forlani also reflected on the broader culture of silence in the industry, noting that women who pushed back often faced career repercussions. She cited actress Thandie Newton as a role model for speaking out about mistreatment, revealing her admiration for Newton’s bravery, even as she feared the consequences herself.
By sharing her own experience, Forlani became part of the larger narrative about the importance of confronting abuse and shedding light on the toxic power dynamics in Hollywood.