TV networks are scrambling to respond to claims of on-set misconduct in the #MeToo era

Los Angeles Times

"Not so long ago, a star fired from a TV show would disappear quietly, without complaining about — or contesting — the circumstances of their dismissal. Public complaints of mistreatment could mean never working in Hollywood again," explains Los Angeles Times' Stephen Battaglio and Meredith Blake. "But the #MeToo movement and its supporters on social media have blown up that long-standing paradigm. TV networks have been pushed into a new era of accountability as talent becomes bolder about publicly airing allegations of inappropriate behavior, racism and sexism." They point to Gabrielle Union's recent America's Got Talent controversy and Survivor's Dan Spilo's inappropriate touching controversy. “We are receiving more complaints as a result of the increased confidence that people will be believed and something will be done to stop the conduct and deal with the issue,” says David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA, which is investigating Union's complaint. “But make no mistake there remains a palpable fear of retaliation that can harm a performer’s career as they go forward and we still have a great deal of work to do.”