Written on behalf of Brian Kabateck
September 7, 2018
Popcorn movies such as 20th Century Fox’s “The Predator” are designed to come with little controversy. The film is about a vicious fight between aliens and humans and is the fifth installment in the Predator franchise. However, a casting choice by the director created some controversy and places the issue of how to view sex offenders into the forefront.
Director Shane Black chose to cast his friend Steven Wilder Striegel in a minor role in the film. Normally, there would be nothing controversial about this, except that Striegel is a registered sex offender. He pleaded guilty in 2010 after facing allegations he attempted to lure a then 14-year-old into a sexual relationship via the Internet (according to the Los Angeles Times). One of his co-stars, Olivia Munn, told Fox about this problem and executives there immediately decided to cut him from the film. Fox claimed it had no prior knowledge of Striegel’s past (for which he spent 6 months in jail). Shane Black admitted he knew of his friend’s past and was simply trying to help him out. Striegel also commented he was never put into a situation with any minors around him.
As the #metoo movement has progressed, questions have arisen as to how the redemption process should work. If Striegel spent time in prison and is a registered sex offender, should he be allowed to work in his chosen profession? According to all reports, he was not working with anyone under the age of 18, so it is easy to see how this is a complicated process. Other personalities accused of some form of sexual misconduct are attempting to return to the limelight as well, and their return has been met with controversy. Louis C.K. has returned to performing standup and Aziz Ansari is once again producing his show for Netflix.
For public facing companies, such as 20th Century Fox and Netflix, the question is “how long should they wait?” Ansari’s accuser was immediately attacked as a large portion of the population, including many feminists, felt he did nothing wrong. Louis C.K. was more severe, but he allegedly asked permission before his behavior. While it’s easy to see that Bill Cosby is now a convicted criminal and Harvey Weinstein could be soon, these other individuals create a more complicated landscape. The first concern should be the victims, but do sex offenders and those guilty of some form of sexual harassment have the right to earn a living?
As #metoo evolves, these questions will surely be sorted out, but it will be done so publicly and often painfully. Victims may have to watch their perpetrators return to the public eye and even receive applause for their entertainment value. For women working at corporations or organizations, this process is a difficult and challenging one. Time will tell exactly how these men are viewed and how/if the redemption process takes shape.
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse you must learn more about your legal rights to receive compensation. Give one of our experienced personal injury attorneys at Kabateck LLP a call today to learn more about recovering damages and to explore your options. We can help you achieve the maximum compensation for the harm you or a loved one has suffered.