She Said (book) explained

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Nonfiction, investigative journalism
Publisher:Penguin Press
Pub Date:September 10, 2019
Media Type:Print, E-book
Pages:320
Isbn:9780525560340
Website:Publisher's website for book

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement is a 2019 nonfiction book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times investigative reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women, a catalyst for the burgeoning MeToo movement.[1] [2] [3] [4] The book was published on September 10, 2019 by Penguin Press.[5] [6]

Methodology

The book details the behind-the-scenes and publicly known processes the authors employed to investigate and publish stories uncovering sexual harassment and sexual abuse by high-profile and powerful men including Harvey Weinstein. The book details new information that helped break the Weinstein story, including sources, documents, and chasing leads. It follows the reporters "from the first exploratory phone calls, to a mounting trail of evidence, to a final face off with a [well known] belligerent" accused person.[5] The book also deals with the open questions about which behaviors and gray areas should constitute sexual harassment:[6]

Kantor admitted that there is “a mounting sense of unfairness on both sides” about a system that no one thinks “works for the accuser, or the accused." Their job remains, as Kantor put it, to ask the three main questions surrounding any allegation: “What is the scope of the behaviors under scrutiny?;” “How do we get the facts right?;” and “What should punishment and accountability look like?”

The authors continue to investigate these questions. To help persuade sources to talk to them, the sources were told that what happened in the past cannot be changed but "together we may be able to use your experience to help protect other people."[5] [7]

Gwyneth Paltrow was instrumental in helping the reporter-authors behind the scenes and whose efforts are chronicled in the book. Near the end of the book, the authors discuss Christine Blasey Ford and the choices that led her to publicly confront Brett Kavanaugh, then a Supreme Court nominee.

Circle of influence

The book chronicles the intersection of executives, companies, lawyers, gossip columnists, tabloid publishers, talent agents, entertainment companies, and public relations (PR) companies that became enmeshed in Weinstein's circle of influence which served to hide and bury information about his behaviors, but was an open secret. Quid pro quo took the form of agreeing to buy film rights to books and stories for "high-grossing films", and promising on-screen roles.[8]

The focus is on the systemic "structures of power" that enabled Weinstein for decades. The reporting, which followed "whispers and rumors" occurring over 30 years, was supported by large numbers of interviews with actresses, past and present employees, filings in court, corporate records, and "internal company communications that documented a thick web of cover-ups, bullying tactics and confidential settlements."[5]

Reviews

According to the book review aggregator Book Marks, She Said received critical acclaim.[9] [5] [8]

In her review for The New York Times, Susan Faludi, wrote, "Kantor and Twohey have crafted their news dispatches into a seamless and suspenseful account of their reportorial journey, a gripping blow-by-blow of how they managed, 'working in the blank spaces between the words,' to corroborate allegations that had been chased and abandoned by multiple journalists before them. She Said reads a bit like a feminist All the President’s Men.”[10] The Times noted that, "This book was one of our most anticipated titles of September".

Film

See main article: She Said (film).

A film adaptation of the book directed by Maria Schrader was released on November 18, 2022. The film is a co-production by Plan B Entertainment, Annapurna Pictures and Universal Pictures. It stars Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan,[11] Patricia Clarkson,[12] Andre Braugher,[13] Samantha Morton,[14] Tom Pelphrey,[15] and Adam Shapiro.[16]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kantor. Jodi. Twohey. Megan. October 5, 2017. Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades (Published 2017). en-US. The New York Times. October 16, 2020. 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: NYT reporters on breaking Harvey Weinstein story, #MeToo "reckoning". October 16, 2020. CBS News. December 19, 2017 . en.
  3. News: Faludi. Susan. September 8, 2019. 'She Said' Recounts How Two Times Reporters Broke the Harvey Weinstein Story (Published 2019). en-US. The New York Times. October 16, 2020. 0362-4331.
  4. News: September 19, 2019. The Reporters Who Exposed Harvey Weinstein. en-US. The New York Times. October 16, 2020. 0362-4331.
  5. News: Quinn . Annalisa . 'She Said' Tracks The Remarkable Reporting Leading To The Arrest Of Harvey Weinstein . . September 8, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  6. News: Perkins . Dennis . The Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of She Said assess #MeToo after Weinstein on The Late Show . AV Club . Onion, Inc. . September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  7. News: Maddus . Gene . How 13 Weinstein Scandal Figures Come Out in Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey's New Book 'She Said . Variety . September 10, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  8. News: Lozada . Carlos . Review: How the New York Times broke Harvey Weinstein . The Washington Post . September 8, 2019. September 14, 2019.
  9. [Book Marks]
  10. News: Faludi . Susan . 'She Said' Recounts How Two Times Reporters Broke the Harvey Weinstein Story . New York Times . September 8, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  11. Web site: Pedersen . Erik . 'She Said' Gets Release Date; Pic Based On Book About Harvey Weinstein Case Stars Carey Mulligan & Zoe Kazan. Deadline Hollywood. July 15, 2021.
  12. Web site: 'She Said': Patricia Clarkson Joins Movie About NY Times' Harvey Weinstein Investigation. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D'Alessandro. August 3, 2021. February 21, 2022. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803232839/https://deadline.com/2021/08/she-said-patricia-clarkson-joins-movie-about-ny-times-harvey-weinstein-investigation-1234808662/. live.
  13. Web site: Andre Braugher Cast as New York Times Editor Dean Baquet in Weinstein Investigation Film 'She Said' (Exclusive). Variety. Matt. Donnelly. August 11, 2021. February 21, 2022. August 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811164630/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/andre-braugher-she-said-weinstein-movie-1235039326/. live.
  14. Web site: Kit. Borys. August 23, 2021. Samantha Morton Joins Universal's Harvey Weinstein Movie (Exclusive). live. February 21, 2022. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. August 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823235335/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/samantha-morton-universal-harvey-weinstein-movie-carey-mulligan-zoe-kazan-1235001705/.
  15. Web site: 'Ozark's Tom Pelphrey Joins Carey Mulligan And Zoe Kazan In Weinstein Investigation Pic 'She Said'. August 25, 2021. Justin. Kroll. Deadline Hollywood. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825213344/https://deadline.com/2021/08/ozark-tom-pelphrey-carey-mulligan-weinstein-she-said-1234821275/. August 25, 2021. live. February 21, 2022.
  16. Web site: Adam Shapiro Joins Cast of 'She Said' for Maria Schrader-Directed Universal Film. October 8, 2021. Chris. Gardner. The Hollywood Reporter. February 21, 2022.

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