Laura Dern is the latest celebrity to speak out to reveal the twisted norm she learned when she entered the entertainment world as a young actress. During her guest appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Wednesday, the "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" actress admitted that she used to justify the behavior of the people she was working with until her mom made her realize something that changed her view about the Hollywood industry.
At the age of 14, Laura Dern experienced the trauma of sexual abuse although she refused to narrate what took place during the alleged incident. She added that the increasing number of women speaking out about issue has also inspired her to come forward.
Celebrities come forward to condemn sexual abuse
She also criticized the industry for treating this kind of misconduct as though it was the norm. But since Harvey Weinstein was exposed to multiple sexual assault allegations two weeks ago, the 50-year-old actress is relieved to see how people are discussing and handling the issue of abuse after the scandal came out.
Lauren Dern also revealed her plan to form a commission that will cater the reports from victims of sexual assault without compelling them to disclose their identities. She said the idea was proposed by Kathleen Kennedy, who is currently the brand manager of the "Star Wars" franchise.
Aside from the "Afterburn" actress, several other celebrities are taking part in campaigning against sexual violence not just in the entertainment world, but also in other industries. For instance, Alyssa Milano initiated the use of #MeToo in her tweets to encourage victims of sexual assault and/or harassment to share their stories.
The internet trends #MeToo and #HowIWillChange amid scandal
In fact, the online rally has gone viral and has drawn millions of comments, posts, and shares from victims and from people calling to end abuse.
Tarana Burke, the creator of "Me Too" campaign, said the movement was originally created as a catchphrase to remind sexual abuse victims that they were not alone. The 44-year-old activist was also credited by Alyssa Milano for her initiative to start a "heartbreaking" and "inspiring" rally for the survivors of sexual misconducts.
Men, on the other hand, are using #HowIWillChange to condemn sexual assault and/or harassment and to set a good example to others on how to treat women. Mark Ruffalo was among those who participated in the online rally to support women.