The issue of sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood has recently gained widespread attention, but it is a problem that has been prevalent in the industry for decades.
Many actresses have come forward with stories of abuse, and the list includes icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Joan Collins, and Shirley Temple.
Some of their stories have been shared through memoirs, but others have never been published.
One such case is that of Judy Garland, the legendary actress and singer who was a victim of assault at the hands of Louis B. Mayer, the co-founder and studio head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Gerald Clarke, a biographer, discovered an incomplete 68-page memoir written by Garland for Random House, which sheds light on her experience with Mayer.
According to Clarke’s 2009 biography, “Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland,” Mayer had a habit of expecting sex from the “female help,” which was considered an unspoken “perk of power.”
Garland was approached for sex between the ages of 16 and 20, and Mayer himself was at the top of the list.
Whenever Mayer complimented Garland on her voice, he would place his hand on her left breast to show where her heart was.
This scenario was repeated multiple times until Garland put a stop to it and told Mayer not to do it again.
Mayer responded by crying and asking Garland how she could reject him when he claimed to love her.
In her unpublished memoir, Garland wrote, “It’s amazing how these big men, who had been around so many sophisticated women all their lives, could act like idiots.”
Another executive threatened Garland, telling her that if she did not sleep with him, he would ruin her and break her.
This threat has been made to many actresses over the years, including those who have accused Harvey Weinstein and director James Toback.
Mayer and Weinstein both share the commonality of being used to getting what they wanted and using their power to coerce others.
Garland died at the age of 47 in 1969 from an accidental drug overdose.
An adaptation of Clarke’s biography has been in the works for years, with Anne Hathaway originally set to star.
However, the project has since been scrapped, and it was recently announced that Renée Zellweger will portray Garland in a biopic titled “Judy,” which will focus on her final concerts in London in 1968.
Despite the passage of time, the issue of sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood persists.
The industry must continue to address and confront this problem in order to create a safer and more respectful working environment for all.
