Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis has one question for Hollywood: “Were people covering for pedophiles, too?”
In light of the sexual harassment and assault allegations raining down on the entertainment industry, Haggis places blame on not only those who may have committed sexual harassment or assault, but also on those who have covered for them. Although Harvey Weinstein is the talk of the town, Haggis also considers grown child stars who have, in the past, made accusations elsewhere.
“It is not an innocent place and never has been,” the man behind the camera of films like “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby” told The Guardian. “Most of this behavior has been aimed at women, but I am sure that former child stars such as Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, who have both made allegations in the past that no one took seriously, are worth considering, too.”
“Were people covering for pedophiles, too?” he added. “We have to think that may have happened as well, because no one speaks out about being abused just to benefit their career. I find it particularly terrible that people had their dreams held to ransom in that way.”
Haggis, who is currently working on a documentary about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, calls Hollywood a “fairly sexist” town and says those who have protected and even helped accused abusers like Weinstein need to also be called out.
“Although everyone thinks it is vile behavior, you have got to focus on those who may have colluded and protected him,” Haggis said. “For me, they are as guilty as he is and in some cases more so, if I can say that. I mean, he was a predator and a predator is a predator. But what about those who would rather look the other way?”