Lily Bennett recently penned a poignant op-ed for The New York Times, shedding light on her experiences with sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and the distressing silence that often accompanies such incidents.
Reflecting on her time as a young actress at the age of 21, Bennett recounts a troubling situation from the set of a hit television series. “A crew member would show up at my apartment uninvited after work, enter my trailer when I wasn’t there, and glare at me from across the set,” she shares. Initially, he seemed “sweet and kind,” leading her to flirt with him a bit. However, she soon realized that his behavior was excessive and made her feel “unsafe.”
Bennett decided to confide in the show’s producer about the unwanted advances, only to be met with the dismissive remark, “Well, there are two sides to every story.” This left her feeling silenced, a common experience for many women in similar situations.
In her essay, Bennett eloquently discusses the challenges women face when confronting sexual harassment and the difficult decision of whether to report such incidents. “Women do not have a voice; they endure an interrogation,” she asserts. “Too often, they are relentlessly questioned about the validity of their experiences, especially when the accused holds a position of power.”
She highlights the daily struggle women endure, constantly evaluating risks in their environments. “Our lives are spent calculating dangers—whether it’s a skirt, a dark alley, or challenging our boss,” she notes. This reality is both tiring and unacceptable.
Bennett reveals that the catalyst for her essay was a Twitter exchange regarding her friend, Max Carter’s upcoming film that features a relationship between a 24-year-old and a 17-year-old. During this discussion, actor David Woods interjected with criticism of the film, despite his own history of dating younger women. This interaction reminded Bennett of an unsettling encounter she had with Woods when she was just 16. He had approached her in a diner, inviting her to spend a night in Las Vegas.
In her earlier open letter to a magazine, Bennett described this incident: “‘It’s such a great place, have you ever been?’ You tried to make it sound innocent. This is a tactic predatory men often employ—presenting their intentions as harmless. It’s just a sprinkle of suggestion…” she wrote.
When Woods denied the encounter on Twitter, Bennett was unfazed. Anticipating skepticism, she shared a screenshot of a text conversation with someone who was with her that night, asserting, “Since I know people love to question the integrity of women when they come forward with stories like this, here you go.”
She emphasizes that disbelief is not just external but internal as well: “Disbelief isn’t solely a matter of men doubting us; it’s also our own self-doubt.” Bennett expressed fear of speaking out against powerful men, stating, “What I have faced as an actress in an industry that objectifies women is terrifying.”
Her courageous words culminate in a powerful statement: “The women I know, myself included, are done with the credentials game. We are discovering that when we raise our voices, we create a chorus. And as our voices unite, the narrative will inevitably shift.”
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In summary, Lily Bennett’s essay confronts the harsh realities of sexual harassment in Hollywood, emphasizing the importance of women’s voices and the collective power of sharing experiences. Her bravery in speaking out encourages others to join the movement for change.