For months, we’ve been talking about Nate Parker and how he should not be allowed to be normalized and celebrated in Hollywood or in the world. And now that all is said and done, Parker is not in the conversation – in any way – this Oscar season. Which is as it should be. But what about Casey Affleck? Casey stars in Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester by the Sea, which is already racking up awards this week. Casey just won the Gotham Award and National Board of Review awards for Best Actor, which pretty much makes him the frontrunner for in the Best Actor race overall.
As soon as Casey Affleck emerged as one of the frontrunners though, another conversation began: would legit media outlets discuss the two women who accused Casey of sexual harassment in 2010? Some outlets have been doing the same kind of detailed reporting that Nate Parker got, like this piece at The Daily Beast, or this piece at Mashable. While the Nate Parker story was more horrific and disturbing because it involved an alleged gang rape, a criminal trial, a guilty verdict and the alleged victim’s suicide, the accusations against Casey are not ones of simple misunderstanding. The women maintained their stories, and Casey ended up settling with both women through mediation, out of court.
New York Magazine wrote a detailed piece this week – go here to read – not only about the allegations lodged against Casey, but about the press around those allegations. Or should I say, the lack of press. While Nate Parker had to do what amounted to an apology/explanation tour – a tour that spectacularly blew up in his face – Casey hasn’t even been asked any questions about the allegations in any of the industry-press interviews he’s done. He even covered a recent issue of Variety, and still no questions. Variety is incidentally one of the outlets which Nate Parker went to. Do I actually have to write the words? Sure, I will. White privilege. There you go.
While I’m not lamenting the fact that Nate Parker was properly shunned, I do think it’s about time for the entertainment press to take a closer look at Casey and start asking some similar questions. But as New York Magazine notes, “Affleck has all the privilege and protection that Parker did not, which is why, although their cases are not completely analogous, their Oscar journeys have played out so differently. Parker’s career is likely over, while Affleck’s is on the rise.”
Photos courtesy of Variety, Fame/Flynet, WENN.
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