Harvey Weinstein

icon
Published: 10.18.2017
Level 5   |   Time: 1:52
Accent: British
BBC Global News Podcast (10.15.2017)

Hollywood stars and executives condemn the actions of movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

image        
image

You can download the file [ HERE ].

    

triangle Directions


  1. REVIEW the vocabulary.
  2. LISTEN to the audio.
  3. ANSWER the questions.
  4. CHECK your answers (Show Answers)

triangle Vocabulary


  • expel [v] - remove / kick out
  • a mogul [n] - an important person with a lot of power
  • allegations [n] - a claim that someone has done something illegal
  • willful ignorance [exp] - not knowing something on purpose
  • complicity [n] - being connected to something illegal
  • sexually predatory behavior [exp] - trying to find, trap, assault people sexually on purpose
  • consensual [adj] - all people involved agree to an action (sex)
  • a body [n] - a group of people / an organization
  • Board of Governors [n] - a group of people who oversee the running of an organization
  • colleagues [n] - coworkers
  • a fall guy [n] - someone who takes the blame for someone else
  • preyed upon [phv] - hunted, exploited, assaulted
  • an epidemic [n] - a very big problem
  • the tip of the iceberg [exp] - one small part of a very big problem
  • lay into (someone) [phv] - criticize someone very strongly
  • a predator [n] - someone who hunts someone in a weaker position
  • kick (someone) out [phv] - remove / expel

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression


triangle Questions


  1. What was Weinstein expelled from?
    Hollywood
    his movie production company
    the academy in charge of the Oscars

  2. Why was he expelled?
    rape allegations
    sexual assault allegations
    embezzlement (money theft) allegations

  3. What is Weinstein's defense?
    All of his actions were consensual.
    He has never met any of the people.
    He was drunk when he committed the crimes.

  4. How many board members voted to expel Weinstein?
    three
    fifty-four
    one hundred

  5. Which famous Hollywood people did the reporter mention that supported the decision?
    Harvey Weinstein
    Steven Spielberg
    George Clooney
    Oprah Winfrey
    Tom Hanks
    Whoopi Goldberg

  6. What two reasons did the board give for expelling Weinstein?
    To get a lot of publicity for the academy.
    To remove Weinstein from the academy.
    To send a message that the era of this behavior is finished.

  7. What reason does the host suggest for Weinstein's harsh punishment?
    To put the blame for this type of behavior all on Weinstein.
    To make sure Weinstein can't make anymore movies.
    To protect Weinstein from going to jail.

  8. According to the reporter, who has generally been harassing people in Hollywood?
    movie producers
    people in power
    older men

  9. According to Emma Thompson, Weinstein's behavior is ____.
    very common in Hollywood
    exaggerated by the media
    hard to prove with 100% certainty

  10. The reported said that some people in Hollywood ____.
    support Weinstein
    are surprised by the allegations
    don't want to talk about the topic

  11. What was Weinstein's brother's reaction to this news?
    He believes Weinstein is innocent.
    He called Weinstein a predator.
    He thinks Weinstein should go to jail.


triangle Script



The organization behind the Oscars has voted to expel the film mogul Harvey Weinstein over rape and sexual assault allegations. The Academy said the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior in the industry was over. Mr. Weinstein has insisted that any sexual contact with his accusers was consensual. Laura Bicker has been following the story.

When it comes to this body, these are 54 members, really influential figures in Hollywood like Tom Hanks. Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Spielberg. And in this statement, the academy board of governors said they voted to expel him not simply to separate themselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues, but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior is over. What they're saying is things are going to change.

Are they really though? I mean, are they making Harvey Weinstein into a kind of fall guy? Isn't the problem much wider than this?

You know, when you speak to people here, and some of it has been very depressing this week, you speak to women after women and men who feel that they've been preyed upon by people in power. And you heard it from earlier this week from the likes of Emma Thompson, who said that this is an epidemic. That Harvey Weinstein is just the tip of the iceberg.

You're right. More revelations have to come forward. Hollywood is now taking a good long hard look at itself. And I'm not sure it's liking what it's seeing. I've also spoken to people who just simply do not want to hear the question about Harvey Weinstein. They do not want to hear the answers. So there's still a long way to go.

And briefly even Harvey Weinstein’s brother has been laying into him.

He really has. Harvey Weinstein’s brother called him a predator. He said that he wasn't aware of the abuse, and he had pleaded with the Academy to kick his brother out.

Laura Bicker.

image
image
Tattoo Danger
image
Five Months at Sea
image