The recent documentary “Quiet on Set” struck a match on the mistreatment of childhood actors. It shed light on the disgusting experiences and unimaginable abuse these actors were subjected to in their pursuit of fame. Behind all the glitz and glamor, there’s an ugly reality that we, as consumers, have unknowingly been feeding for years.
I’m a ’90s kid – through and through. Growing up, I lived on shows like “Drake & Josh” and “What I Like About You,” and I’ll still watch them when I’m flipping through channels and catch old episodes. I remember when Amanda Bynes “went crazy.” We sat back and wondered what the heck happened to her. We never considered why someone’s personality may have changed. Now, looking back, the signs were so, so obvious.
Full transparency: I can’t bring myself to watch the documentary. It feels like a horrific rerun of ones I’ve watched about Jeffrey Epstein and Jared From Subway, and I honestly just can’t take anymore. It doesn’t sound like P. Diddy is far behind, either.
Has this always happened with celebrities? Regardless, I’m friggin’ sick of it.
Sick of allowing money and power to overshadow human lives and the right to feel safe and protected.
Sick of those who know about the abuse but allow the cycle to continue because they’re afraid of personal consequences.
Sick of this becoming a monthly, if not weekly, occurrence where a hero turns out to be an absolute predator.
When are we going to stop letting influential sickos ruin lives? We’re allowing the cycle of exploitation to thrive. Awareness is great, but it doesn’t stop sexual predators.
The Midwest is far from the bright lights of Hollywood, but that doesn’t change our responsibility. If we don’t do something to stop this, it’s only a matter of time before we’re having the same conversation again. As we watch these now-common scandals unfold, we have to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Stand up with where we spend our dollars. Stand up with whose work we support. Stand up with the message that this isn’t going to be tolerated.