Weinstein to stand trial after year of #MeToo

The #MeToo campaign has toppled careers - exposing powerful men who have forced themselves upon women. 

In just over a year since the movement began, actors, politicians and journalists have been ousted, some even jailed.  

And now the once powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who's been accused by more than 80 women of sexual assault and harassment, has been told he will stand trial. 

Nick Harper looks back on the year of #MeToo. 

IN: "It's a..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:33

ALL: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1220metoo-nh.mp3

TAKE VO 

It's a movement that was launched with a single tweet. Actress Alyssa Milano asking victims of sexual harassment or assault to write 'me too'.
TAKE VO 

Public accusations against prominent figures followed. And millions across the country took part in January's Women's March, including Actress Olivia Wilde

SOT - Olivia Wilde, Actress: "We have shown them that Hell hath no fury like a woman underestimated."

TAKE VO 

In what was seen as the first criminal conviction of the MeToo movement, actor and comedian Bill Cosby was jailed and classified a "sexually violent predator" for drugging and sexually assaulting a former colleague.
TAKE VO 

Supreme Court judge Brett Kavanaugh faced accusations of sexual misconduct during his nomination process.
TAKE VO 

The CEO of the CBS television network Les Moonves was ousted over multiple allegations of sexual harassment and denied a 120 million dollar buyout.
TAKE VO 

Sports even fell under the spotlight, with former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sentenced to more than a hundred years in prisonfor abusing hundreds of young gymnasts.
TAKE VO 

While former film producer Harvey Weinstein became the poster child for the pervasiveness of harassment in Hollywood.
TAKE VO 

Activist and actress Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of raping her, says many people were aware of what was going on. 

SOT - Rose McGowan, Actress: "I lived with it every day, and I know who knew, and I know it was the majority, and it was just considered, like, 'Oh, she's an actress.  She wore a short skirt.  She deserved it.  That's the prevailing wisdom in a lot of industries, but very particularly that one."

TAKE VO 
But Weinstein's lawyer Benjamin Brafman says he's been a victim of the MeToo movement. 

SOT - Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein Attorney: "If the MeToo movement helps level the playing field for women throughout the world, then we are strongly supporting that movement. A movement should not however be permitted to push an indictment that is deeply flawed as we believe this movement has done in this case."

TAKE VO 

But despite attempts to get the rape and assault charges dropped, Weinstein ends the year with a trial on the horizon.
It's just over a year since Weinstein's accusers came forward, sparking a movement whose momentum spread it far beyond the media industry.
That defining tale of Hollywood power and influence will come to New York next year when Weinstein stands trial. 

SOC