Numerous more women and men have courageously come forward to tell their tales of being sexually harassed by powerful individuals since the Harvey Weinstein scandal was made public last week.

This week, Lili Reinhart wrote on Tumblr about a time when a senior male coworker attempted to push their date farther than she wished, leaving her feeling “completely violated.” At the time, she was a teenager.

The actress, age 21, spoke of her “own personal experience” in which a guy who had authority over her “used that same power to try to take advantage of” her.

Reinhart, who portrays Betty Cooper on the popular CW show, stayed silent when asked name the abuser she had an encounter with that she called “a scene out of a horror movie.”

“I’m not comfortable giving specific details about the situation because I don’t feel it’s necessary. All that matters is that he tried to force himself on me when we were on a date.” She continued, “I had to stop him and say ‘No, I don’t want that,’ and ‘I can’t do that.’ I physically walked away from the situation before it could get any worse. I remember feeling like this was a scene right out of a horror movie.”

Reinhart, feeling ‘completely violated and uncomfortable,’ said she walked away from the man, who cajoled her to get in his car, as she thought he would take her home.

She said that when the guy attempted to take her to his residence, she requested him to take her home because she had a feeling that ‘something bad was going to happen to’  her.

Reinhart recalled the encounter, saying, ‘He said some snarky comment but reluctantly brought me to where I was staying,’ She said that when she confronted him about it the next day, he remained adamant.

‘This guy proceeded to tell me that it was my fault for leading him on,’ she wrote. ‘Saying that, “I seemed like a sexual girl and that I’d be down for it.” That I misled him.’

She said that as time went on, he became hostile and defensive, referred to her as “the most manipulative woman he’d ever met,” and avoided engaging in conversation with her about the circumstance, causing her to assume that it had really been her fault.

Reinhart said that she understood why victims would remain silent, even for years, if a the abuser is powerful.

“I was miserable,” she wrote. “And I felt that I needed to keep my mouth shut about the entire situation because 1. I figured no one would believe me and 2. he played a much bigger role in this project than me … he had more power.”

“If I said something, maybe the production would be halted…people would be put out of work. I would be looked at as dramatic and a diva, no one would want to work with me again,” she continued. “So I understand how these women feel- the women coming forward about being harassed and assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Feeling that they’d rather keep quiet at the time than start a discussion that could lead to them being called a liar or overly dramatic.”

She added, “I stand with them. I believe them. I believe in standing up for yourself as a woman and coming forward about sexual harassment. I’m coming forward about my own experience to further express how common these assaults are in this industry and how important it is that we take action to fight against it.”

The actor from Not Waving But Drowning said that reliving the series of events made her sad since they are still “hard for [her] to swallow.”

‘I was so young and didn’t know how to handle the situation,’ she stated. ‘I just knew how wrong it felt and that I had been violated.’

Reinhart expressed solidarity with the Weinstein accusers, joining the chorus of others who have come out this week, and expressed the hope that sharing her personal experience will empower other victims and normalize the conversation around this kind of assault.

Profile:

Lili Reinhart is an American actress and singer who is best known for her role as Betty Cooper in the CW drama series Riverdale.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1996, Reinhart began acting at a young age and made her professional debut in the 2012 short film For Today.

She then appeared in various television shows and films, including the indie comedy-drama Miss Stevens, the supernatural drama The Good Neighbor, and the fantasy film The Kings of Summer.

In 2016, Reinhart was cast as Betty Cooper in Riverdale, a teen drama based on the Archie Comics. The show quickly became a hit, and Reinhart’s performance as the good-hearted and intelligent Betty earned her widespread acclaim.

She has received several awards and nominations for her work on the show, including a Teen Choice Award for Choice Scene Stealer in 2018.

In addition to her work on Riverdale, Reinhart has also appeared in other film and television projects. She starred in the 2018 romantic comedy-drama Galveston, playing a young woman who is rescued by a hitman on the run.

She also starred in the 2020 horror film The Dark Inside Me, playing a college student who becomes possessed by a demon. She has also lent her voice to the animated film A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting.

In addition to acting, Reinhart is also a talented singer and musician. She has released several singles, including “Something to Remember” and “Space”.

She has also performed live on stage, including at a benefit concert for the Los Angeles LGBT Center in 2019. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness, and has been open about her own struggles with anxiety and depression.

Lili Reinhart is also an accomplished author. In 2020, she published her debut poetry collection, titled Swimming Lessons. The collection explores themes of mental health, relationships, and self-discovery, and received widespread critical acclaim.

She has also written a young adult novel, titled The Strays, which is set to be published in 2022.

Reinhart has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including supporting organizations that promote mental health awareness and fight against cancer.

She is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association, and has worked to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care.

She has also supported the American Cancer Society, and participated in the organization’s annual Relay for Life event in 2018.