The past few weeks have felt eerily familiar, echoing a sentiment that goes beyond the breakup of Bennifer. Once again, headlines are dominated by harrowing accusations of sexual misconduct against men in positions of power. This raises a crucial question: how did we find ourselves back at this point? When the #MeToo movement became a global conversation following the explosive allegations against Harvey Weinstein in 2017, it was heralded as a turning point. The hope was that never again would so many women be silenced and abused in this way. We were supposed to have shed light on the culture of impunity that allowed men like Weinstein to commit crimes and believe they could escape accountability. Enough was enough, we thought.
But now, it feels like #MeToo 2.0 has arrived. Take the case of Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former Harrods owner, accused of sexual assault and rape by former employees at the Knightsbridge store. A BBC documentary featured testimonies from over 20 women who alleged they were attacked by the billionaire, who passed away in 2023. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are investigating allegations made by 19 different women dating back to 1979, and are currently processing an “unknown number” of new reports. Lawyers claim to be representing around 190 women who have come forward, with more expected.
Then there’s P. Diddy, 54, currently detained in New York facing accusations of violent crimes against women, including coercing them into sexual acts during orgies he called “freak offs.” (Combs has vehemently denied all charges.) This pattern continues with the horrifying rape case unfolding in France, where 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot confessed to drugging his former wife, Gisele, and inviting over 50 strangers to rape her over a decade. It’s no wonder countless group chats are filled with women asking variations of “How many more?” Many of us are struggling to comprehend that we are having the same conversations, almost seven years after the Weinstein scandal broke. It feels as though we have simply gone back to square one.
However, this time around, we are aware of the pattern. The allegations emerge, the floodgates open, more survivors come forward, the backlash starts, and then… does anything truly change? Let’s be clear: women who bravely speak out about their abuse deserve immense admiration. The time it took them to come forward is irrelevant; they should never have been silenced by fear and shame, wrongly imposed upon them. “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,” one woman caught up in the Al-Fayed allegations shared with the press.
Certainly, any movement for social change needs moments of rapid acceleration. Progress is not linear, nor is it easy. True watershed moments are elusive; instead, we experience catalysts for evolution. Yet, this evolution needs to happen at a much faster pace. While some changes have occurred since 2017, including the implementation of anti-harassment policies in workplaces, a decrease in the use of non-disclosure agreements, and a growing awareness of collective power and the contagious nature of bravery, it is still difficult for many women to speak up. They understand better how to describe what happened to them and recognize that it was likely criminal. Still, coming forward often feels like facing insurmountable odds. It’s time to say Time’s Up—not just as long as the headlines persist, but for good.
