The last few weeks have felt eerily familiar, and it has nothing to do with Bennifer’s latest breakup. Once again, headlines are dominated by horrifying allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men. It’s a disturbing sense of déjà vu.
After the explosive accusations against Harvey Weinstein in 2017 ignited the global MeToo movement, we were promised a turning point. It was supposed to be the end of an era where women were abused and silenced. We were supposed to have shed light on the culture of impunity that allowed men like Weinstein to commit crimes with impunity. We were told ‘enough is enough’.
But here we are, seemingly right back where we started. We’re facing a new wave of MeToo allegations, with a sense of grim inevitability.
Take the case of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who has been accused of sexual assault and rape by former employees. A BBC documentary featured over 20 women who claimed they were assaulted by the billionaire, who passed away in 2023. The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating allegations from 19 women dating back to 1979, with an ‘unknown number’ of new reports being reviewed. Lawyers report representing over 190 women who have come forward, with more expected.
Then there’s P Diddy, 54, who is currently in a New York detention center facing charges that include violent crimes against women. These charges include allegations of coercing women into sex during orgies he referred to as ‘freak offs’. (Combs has vehemently denied all charges.)
And let’s not forget the harrowing rape case unfolding in France, where 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot has admitted to drugging his ex-wife, Gisele, and inviting over 50 strangers to rape her over a decade.
It’s no wonder that so many of us are asking, ‘How many more?’ We’re having the same conversations we were having almost seven years ago after the Weinstein scandal.
The pattern feels all too familiar: allegations emerge, the floodgates open, more survivors come forward, the backlash begins, and… does anything really change?
Let me be clear: women who find the courage to speak out about abuse are incredibly brave. It shouldn’t matter how long it takes them to come forward. They should never have been placed in a position where they felt silenced by fear and shame.
As one woman caught up in the Al-Fayed allegations told The Times, ‘I thought of speaking out then [when the MeToo movement began]… but I was embarrassed and felt like a failure. I assumed everyone would think I was being vengeful.’
Of course, social change movements are rarely linear or easy. There are no magic ‘watershed moments,’ only catalysts for evolution. But this evolution needs to happen much faster.
While some progress has been made since 2017, including anti-harassment policies in workplaces and a decrease in the use of non-disclosure agreements, the battle is far from over. Women are now more aware of the power of their collective voice, and they know that their bravery is contagious. They understand how to describe what happened to them, recognizing it as a criminal act.
But the odds still feel stacked against those who do come forward. It’s time to say Time’s Up, not just for the duration of the headlines, but for good. We need lasting systemic change to ensure that women are truly safe and empowered to speak out without fear.
