Reading Sirin Kale’s incredible investigation into the allegations of groping, harassment and bullying against Noel Clarke (allegations he has categorically denied apart from one accusation of making inappropriate comments about a female colleague), there was one overriding thought in my brain: Where are all the men in this?
As part of Sirin’s report, 20 women have gone on the record – some named, some anonymous – accusing Noel of incidents ranging from inappropriate comments and sharing other women’s nude images with them to groping, sending unsolicited dick pics and indecent exposure. Then there’s bullying, threatening behaviour and sustained sexual harassment. (Again, he denies all of these, bar the one mentioned above).
It took me 30 minutes to read the entire 6300+ word feature, stopping at times to discuss with friends the sheer number of allegations. But it wasn’t just that there were 20 women, it was the detail at which each allegation was explained, fact-checked and cross-referenced with people who were in the room, overhead conversations about it or friends who were told at the time. To put it simply, the list of people involved in painting this picture of Noel was exhaustive.
‘This is what it takes,’ I thought, both in awe of Sirin’s work and haunted by how much must’ve been involved. ‘These are the lengths women have to go to just to have their allegations investigated.’
It’s what everyone’s talking about on Twitter today, the fact that only when dozens of women come forward are allegations even taken seriously. Phrases like ‘the industry’s best kept secret’ and ‘hiding in plain sight’ are coming up a lot. More than that though, what needs discussing is how hard finding some of these women must’ve been when there are so many prominent men who must’ve bore witness to the alleged incidents.
Sirin spoke to big timers in the acting industry, but a number of the allegations also came from small-time crew members, interns, and Clarke’s driver. These were the people willing to be named knowing that there was less at risk for their careers by coming forward, it seems, but if an intern is willing to speak publicly, where are the men speaking on the allegations?
The men in those rooms will hold more power and status just by virtue of being men, but for some of them, say the fellow actors, producers or directors involved in Clarke’s projects – they are certainly in a position were speaking up would cost them much less than the young, vulnerable women coming out now.
Go on Getty Images and type in Noel Clarke, you’ll see he has a whole host of celebrity friends. You’ll see the men he’s worked with time and time again. No one is suggested any sense of guilt by association, but when these men could so obviously speak on Clarke’s character or at the very least, show support for the brave women going public with these allegations, the fact that they’re not is telling. Big-time women in the industry certainly are, Michaela Coel released a statement earlier today as has London Hughes and Lily Allen.
And now, it’s starting a bigger conversation, outside of these allegations, about the role men play in creating safe environments for women. We have seen it discussed more and more in the wake of Sarah Everard’s death, men asking: ‘What can I do to help?’
Well, you only need to read this investigation to see areas where, in the incidents described by the accusers, men could step in and hold their friend, colleague or even a stranger accountable should similar instances happen around them. If a man is constantly being sexually suggestive towards women in the room, especially when he is their boss or holds more power and status in that room, call him out. If he’s showing you naked images of women on his phone, call him out. If he’s being too tactile, groping or shouting abuse at women: Call. Him. Out.
It doesn’t have to be aggressive; it doesn’t have to threaten a friendship (although you’d hope it would), it just has to be said in one way or another. Even a simple ‘Oi mate, can’t you see you’re making her uncomfortable?’ would be a start.
As the Noel Clarke story continues to make waves, the women named in the report are trending on Google Trends. ‘Jahannah James’, ‘Jing Lusi’, ‘Gina Powell’ and ‘Ieva Sabaliauskaite’ are all breakout search terms right now. Jahannah James is an actor in Brotherhood, Jing Lusi also an actor best known for her role in Crazy Rich Asians, Gina Powell is a film producer and Ieva Sabaliauskaite a production assistant.
It’s never a one-off, it’s always the tip of the iceberg.
But you know whose names aren’t trending? The powerful men that worked at his side for years that could be speaking up right now. The only one to, so far, is his long-time friend and colleague Ashley Walters.
‘My thoughts are with the women who have come forward and told their awful stories. I’m in shock and deeply saddened by what I have heard on a multitude of levels,’ he said on Instagram this afternoon. ‘I could never condone behaviour of this nature neither in nor out of the workplace, and whilst Noel has been a friend and colleague for several years, I cannot stand by and ignore these allegations. Sexual harassment, abuse and bullying have no place in our industry. Every woman has the right to a safe workplace and moving forward I pledge my dedication to this.’
Hopefully, Walter’s statement is the start of many – but more than anything, it should be the start of men recognising their role in holding their friends accountable for behaviour they so often laugh off. Men, you might view the occasional incident and feel it is isolated so unnecessary to call out, but if reading this story proves anything it’s how easily a picture can be painted of predatory behaviour when all of those so-called isolated incidents are laid out together.
It’s never a ‘one-off’, it’s always the tip of the iceberg. So, men, we’re waiting for your solidarity.
Read More:
People Are Watching These Videos Of Noel Clarke In A Different Light Now
BAFTA Suspends Noel Clarke Over Numerous Sexual Misconduct Allegations