Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg didn’t mince words when addressing the Harvey Weinstein scandal in an interview with Axios on Thursday morning, calling the disgraced movie mogul “abysmal.”
“We can’t tolerate Harvey Weinstein-like behavior,” Sandberg told Mike Allen.
Sandberg said she thinks it’s “great” when someone of Weinstein’s stature loses his job over sexual harassment claims because it shows that even the biggest power players can be brought down.
“When it does happen and someone loses their job and is publicly embarrassed, I think that’s great,” said Sandberg. “Not because I want that to happen but because I think the only deterrent for other people is to see that there are disastrous consequences.”
Weinstein was fired on Sunday from the company he co-founded, The Weinstein Company, after public disclosure of decades of sexual misconduct and paid settlements with women who made complaints about his behavior.
In the aftermath, A-list stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie have shared their stories of Weinstein’s sexual misconduct with them.
Sandberg said not only Weinstein, but his handlers that helped to coordinate and conceal harassment must face repercussions as well.
“There need to be those same consequences for the people that tolerate it around those people,” said Sandberg. “And I think we are going to get there.”
Sandberg said the scope of the issue is bigger than just Weinstein.
“It’s not just about him. It’s not just about the other men that do it,” said Sandberg. “It’s about all the people around them that know and don’t do anything.”