Cara Delevingne: I felt ashamed by abuse
Cara Delevingne has spoken out about the abuse she suffered, saying she didn’t speak out because she didn’t want to “publicly ruin someone’s life”.
The model and actress, 26, last year accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment after alleging he encouraged her to kiss a female assistant when she went to his hotel room to discuss a film role.
Delevingne has revealed why she took so long to speak out after the “Why I Didn’t Report It” hashtag started circulating online.
The hashtag built traction after President Donald Trump said those who have been abused in the past should have sought help from authorities sooner.
Delevingne tweeted: “Because I felt ashamed of what happened and didn’t want to publicly ruin someone’s life, even though they privately ruined mine #WhyIDidntReport.”
The Suicide Squad actress levelled abuse allegations against the disgraced producer last year in a lengthy Instagram post in which she told fans: “Don’t be ashamed of your story it will inspire others.”
She claimed Weinstein once called her and asked if she had had sex with the women she is pictured with at events before allegedly telling her she would not make it as an actress in Hollywood if she was gay.
She said she felt “powerless and scared” when she later went to his hotel room to discuss a role where he allegedly asked her to kiss a female assistant before he tried to kiss her on the lips.
She wrote: “I was so hesitant about speaking out.... I didn't want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong. I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear.”
A handful of celebrities are using the “Why I Didn’t Report It” hashtag to tell their stories with Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino among those speaking out.
Weinstein has been charged in New York with sexually assaulting three women.
Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
Cara Delevingne - In pictures
