Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has stepped up to defend Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey’s work. Both men have been accused of sexual misconduct.
The legend of stage and screen, noted for roles in Shakespeare in Love and as M in the James Bond films, has a long history working under Weinstein at Miramax Films, and with Spacey who held the position of Artistic Director at the Old Vic theatre in London. During that time Dench developed friendships with both men, as well as great admiration for their work.
Now the 84-year-old has pushed back against forces that would erase Spacey & Weinstein’s career achievements because of their personal behavior in an interview with popular British radio program Radio Times.
“What kind of agony is that?” Dench asked. “Are we going to negate 10 years at the Old Vic and everything that he did–how wonderful he’s been in all those films? Are we just not going to see all those films that Harvey produced? You cannot deny somebody a talent. You might as well never look at a Caravaggio painting. You might as well never have gone to see Noel Coward.”
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Related: Kevin Spacey faces teen sex assault charges in court
The 16th-century painter Caravaggio killed a man in a barroom brawl, possibly over gambling debts. Noel Coward, lauded as one of the great dramatists of the 20th century, also had a reputation for improper flirting with younger men.
Weinstein, by contrast, has been accused of misconduct ranging from inappropriate remarks to rape by more than 100 women. Several men have also accused Spacey of harassment and improper behavior, including actor Anthony Rapp who has long alleged that Spacey tried to have sex with him when Rapp was only 14 years old.
poundmetoo
She speaks the truth and the sjw crowd has their typical melt down!
Vince
Is this a blanket policy for all talented rapists and pedophiles?
Jared MacBride
Neither Weinstein nor Spacey has been convicted of or acknowledged rape or sexual assault. Neither has been accused of pedophilia. Save the histrionics for your own life.
Cam
@Jared MacBride
Except Kevin Spacey WAS accused of being inappropriate with a 14 year old Anthony Rapp (Who looked 12 according to the Playbill photo). So that qualifies as pedophilia. And Yes, literally the first accusation against Weinstein was Rose McGowan detailing how he raped her and then paid her around $100,000 to stay quiet.
So…….your entire comment was false.
Jared MacBride
@Cam – as usual you live in an alternate reality. Fourteen is way past pedophile age and neither of them has acknowledged or been convicted of rape or sexual assault.
So, DCGuy, your entire comment was false.
Chrisk
Jared MacBride
Yeah they’re totally innocent and OJ is an innocent man. Eye roll..
Chrisk
Cam
I remember rapp when adventures of babysitting came out and that’s when the incident between him and Spacey took place. Yes. He did look like a child and that’s what Hollywood wanted for the role. I can’t imagine an adult man looking at that as sexual material though.
Cam
@Jared MacBride
Interesting, all of the same accounts that defend bigoted Republicans are here trying to defend Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. Goes right along with all of the Republican and Religious people fired or discovered in sex scandals.
And by the way. Interesting how you tried to claim Weinstein never was accused of Rape, I pointed out that the very first accusation was rape, and you tried to pretend that was never said, and went right to trying to defend Spacey for trying to sleep with a 14 year old that looked 10.
dc1WPB
I don’t think anyone would negate the talent, whether as performer, director or producer. It’s the acts they perform outside of their professional lives that make them ugly and, regrettably, people we need to dishonor….Let’s keep the work separate from the reprehensible acts performed due to their power in the industry.
Creamsicle
I think it’s fine to acknowledge their talent and past successes while still condemning the behavior that lead to allegations. It beats the alternative of trying to erase them from history and make them into unpersons.
You’re not a bad person for finding Spacey compelling in House of Cards or enjoying something produced by Weinstein. Their expulsion from legitimate work is hardly a death sentence. They’re still extremely wealthy and can evidently continue to buy their way out of facing the criminal justice system.
With Weinstein and Spacey unseated, there is more space for other talented people to flourish. We have no shortage of talented actors and well-connected producers. Getting rid of these two will hopefully discourage the kind of coercive behavior that traumatizes people trying to pay their dues and make a living in entertainment.
Kangol2
Talented or not, if you commit a rape or sexual assault, you deserve to be punished. She’s also conflating flirty behavior with rape and attempted rape, which Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have been accused of. Would she be so cavalier about a man who attempted to rape or sexually assault or actually succeeded in raping her? I seriously doubt it.
Cam
I’m curious, just how good at making cupcakes, or coffee, or cutting hair does somebody have to be before they also get a free pass on rape?
trog
Actually, life will go on just fine without the films of Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein.
I feel bad for all the other folks in their movies, though. Mostly, moving forward, I won’t watch a future film by either man.
Similarly, the world will continue to turn if we never hear another Michael Jackson song. I can’t enjoy them now anyway.
PinkoOfTheGange
Wow the comment section is quite bright with all this signalling going on.
garybw
I’m assuming Dench was misquoted. Weinstein and Spacey haven’t been convicted, no one said burn their films or burn the old Vic to the ground. The allegations on them are horrendous. Watch their work or don’t, in that arena you are the judge.
Josh447
Simple consensual sex outside of marriage has ruined the careers of senators and congressmen, though the president seems to slide by thru the GOP agenda of stacking the courts, rolling back Roe vs Wade and probably gay marriage. And we’re supposed to let these two slide? Unfortunately their work got tainted with illegal disgusting behavior toward innocent youth et al. Hard to separate the two.
karljordinson
I don’t see the connection with Noel cowards and Kevin spacey? They were both gay but. Noel never had sex with a minor. The connection should be put together! I don’t delete his work I still like them but to endorse future work after we know what he’s don’t would deny the victims! He put them victims through hell. I stand for the victims and their stories (for kadian and Anthony, I’ll always have your back)
Brian
This is something people should make their own individual decisions about viewing or not. The work already exists, it certainly shouldn’t be banned or attempted to be wiped off the face of the earth. Their work is also the work of hundreds of other people who did nothing wrong.
Cam
I seem to remember she defended them back when it happened. Is this a new quote from her or is the original stuff getting recycled?