Brooklyn Nine-Nine star and deadset legend Terry Crews has come forward with his own story of sexual assault in the wake of the Weinstein allegations.
“The whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD,” he said on Twitter. “Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME.”
He says he and his wife, Rebecca King-Crews, were at an industry function last year when a “high level Hollywood executive” came over and groped him.
He says he jumped back and asked the man what he was doing, but the man just “grinned like a jerk.”
“I was going to kick his ass right then – but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear,” he said. “‘240 lbs [109 kg] black man stomps out Hollywood honcho’ would be the headline the next day. Only I probably wouldn’t have been able to read it because I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL. So we left.”
Crews says he understands why so many women who experience sexual assault or harassment do not take further action.
“I decided not to take it further because I didn’t want to be ostracised – par for the course when the predator has power and influence,” he said.
“I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happened to let it go. Who’s going to believe you? (Few.) “What are the repercussions?” (Many.) “Do you want to work again? (Yes.) Are you prepared to be ostracised? (No.)”
Crews says his assaulter “knows who he is”, but that “sometimes you have to wait and compare notes with others who’ve been victimised in order two gain a position of strength.”
He says he’s coming forward with his story to encourage others to whom something similar might have happened.
“I understand and empathise with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only predator. Hollywood is not the only business where this happens, and to the casualties of this behaviour – you are not alone. Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless.”
Crews coming forward is unbelievably powerful. Since the Weinstein exposé, many have been asking the same question: who knew, and when did they know?
Crews is a reminder that Weinstein is not the only predator protected by power, and that even a walking beast of a man is not immune to assault.
You can read his full Twitter statement below.
This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. (1/Cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates. (2/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Jumping back I said What are you doing?! My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk. (3/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I was going to kick his ass right then— but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear. (4/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
“240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho” would be the headline the next day. (5/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Only I probably wouldn’t have been able to read it because I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL. So we left.
(6/cont.)— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
That night and the next day I talked to everyone I knew that worked with him about what happened. (7/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
He called me the next day with an apology but never really explained why he did what he did. (8/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn’t want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence. (9/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go. (10/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Who’s going 2 believe you? ( few) What r the repercussions?(many) Do u want 2 work again? (Yes) R you prepared 2b ostracized?(No)(11/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I love what I do. But it’s a shame and the height of disappointment when someone tries to takes advantage of that. (12/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
He knows who he is. But sumtimes Uhav2 wait & compare notes w/ others who’ve been victimized in order 2gain a position of strength. (13cont)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
I understand and empathize with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator. (14/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Hollywood is not the only business we’re this happens, and to the casualties of this behavior— you are not alone. (15/cont.)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless. (16/end)
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017
If you have been a victim of sexual assault (whatever your gender), you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for support.