Film boss demanded sex for business deals – executive

In 2001, a senior South African film executive was handed a list by her American employer, requesting she engage in sexual relationships to secure business deals. This incident unfolded during a time when the #MeToo movement had not yet brought attention to the issue of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

The South African film and entertainment executive had secured a promising opportunity at a New York-based multinational company, renowned for its international reach and influence within the competitive world of film. However, just weeks into her role, she started receiving unsettling invitations to meet with her superior, who was often referred to as "The Boss."

At first, these meetings took place in the boss's "corner office," attended by several people. Gradually, she was summoned alone or kept behind after others had left. The interactions became increasingly intimate, with the boss's advances no longer subtle. The reporter noted, "There was nothing subtle about it."

The young South African professional, eager to establish herself in the industry, often found herself traveling internationally to film markets and festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, and Berlinale. It was during these trips that her discomfort escalated. On two separate instances, an assistant allegedly attempted to force her into an elevator to meet with the boss in a hotel room, further exacerbating her distress.

Toward the end of her first year, the boss presented the executive with a list of high-ranking film executives worldwide, demanding she engage in sexual acts with them to facilitate business. This act left her feeling violated and powerless, given the non-disclosure agreement that bound her in silence.

The executive spoke of the intimidation she faced as a foreigner within the United States, compounded by the threat of the non-disclosure agreement. She later learned that sexual harassment lawsuits against the boss surpassed the combined budgets of all films in production at that time. Realizing she had become another victim of the #MeToo movement, she shared her story to shed light on the pervasive issue of sexual abuse and power dynamics in the entertainment world.