TIRANA, Jan. 15 – Eliza Dushku, the American actress of Albanian origin, joined the ranks of women speaking out about sexual harassment in Hollywood this week after sharing her story of assault by Joel Kramer, leading stunt coordinator, when she was only 12 years old.
Through a Facebook statement Dushku, who has been a Hollywood actress since she was a minor, told how Kramer sexually molested her by “methodologically building her and her parents’ trust” while filming the 1994 hit True Lies.
The decision to come out after 25 years of silence is the result of a number of assault stories told by famous actresses that has lately taken Hollywood by storm.
“Over the years I’ve really struggled as I’ve wondered how my life might have been different if someone, anyone grown-up who witnessed his sick ways, had spoken up before he lured me to that hotel room,” Dushku writes in her statement.
The ever-growing number of sexual assault stories being shared gave birth to the Me Too movement, which a great number of other women from all around the world used in social media to tell their own experiences with assault in the workplace and advocate for women’s rights.
Some of the powerful men that have been brought under the spotlight and even lost their positions of influence are Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K. and Kevin Spacey.
Jamie Lee Curtis, famous Hollywood actress, posted an article shortly after Dushku’s statement verifying the actress’ story.
“I was shocked and saddened then and still am today,” Curtis wrote.
Dushku has posted one more statement since her story’s publication where she stands by what she said as the truth, after reactions to her story accused her of making it up or looking to gain some publicity thanks to the popularity of the Me Too movement.
