‘Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart Says Coworker Once Tried To Force Himself On Her

Last week’s bombshell New York Times story detailing the alleged sexual misconduct of producer Harvey Weinstein has inspired many people in Hollywood to come forward with stories of their own, with allegations against him and others. Riverdale star Lili Reinhart is another who has decided to break her silence, recently detailing a frightening incident from her past.

“I feel the need to share a story of my own personal experience where a man in a position of power over me, used that said power to try and take advantage of me,” the actress said in a post to her Tumblr.

She went on to explain that when she was a teenager working on an unspecified project, she developed  crush on a “significantly older” colleague.

She said that after flirting for a while, they went on a date, and while she chose to omit certain details, she went on to say that the colleague tried to “force himself” on her. She continued:

I had to stop him and say “no, I don’t want that,” and “I can’t do that.” I physically walked away from the situation before it could get any worse. I remember feeling like this was a scene right out of a horror movie.

After awkward silence and me feeling completely violated and uncomfortable, he convinced me to get in his car– I assumed he was going to drive me home. I didn’t have any money and couldn’t afford a taxi or an Uber. So I figured it was okay.

As we were driving, I realized he was trying to take me back to his apartment. And I knew if I made it there, something bad was going to happen to me. I told him to drop me off at my home, that I didn’t want to go back to his place. He said some snarky comment but reluctantly brought me to where I was staying.

Lili Reinhart wrote that the situation at work became increasingly toxic, with the man in question accusing her of “leading him on”, saying that she was a “tease” and “the most manipulative woman he’d ever met.” She went on to explain why she didn’t come forward at the time, saying

“I was miserable. And I felt that I needed to keep my mouth shut about the entire situation because 1. I figured no one would believe me and 2. he played a much bigger role in this project than me… he had more power. If I said something, maybe the production would be halted … people would be put out of work. I would be looked at as dramatic and a diva, no one would want to work with me again.”

She ended the post by saying that she came forward in hopes of highlighting how common this type of incident is, and to stand with those who have come forward so far.

Along with Lili Reinhart, performers like Gwyneth PaltrowEva GreenAsia ArgentoTerry Crews and James Van Der Beek  have come forward with troubling stories of their own.

 

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