DINH DOONG

Hollywood’s Dark Side: Allegations, Scandals, and the Silent Elite.

Hollywood has long been synonymous with glitz, glamour, and fame, but beneath the surface lies a troubling undercurrent of exploitation, particularly involving young actors. In recent years, figures like Corey Feldman have come forward to expose the dark reality behind the industry’s most powerful players.

Feldman, alongside his late friend Corey Haim, has repeatedly spoken out about the abuse they suffered as young actors, accusing influential industry figures of preying on them.

According to Feldman, the problem is systemic, with many perpetrators still actively working in Hollywood. These individuals, he claims, are among the richest and most powerful in the business.

“The number one problem in Hollywood was, is, and always will be nobody talks about it,” Feldman said, emphasizing that it’s an open secret. Despite the gravity of these allegations, the industry has largely remained silent.

Feldman has not only recounted his personal experiences but has also detailed the environment that allowed such behavior to flourish. He recalls being invited to exclusive parties where young actors were targeted.

“They would pull away the better-looking, younger kids and keep them for their own after-party,” he explained, revealing that these gatherings often devolved into inappropriate and predatory situations.

One of the most significant moments in Feldman’s public campaign to expose Hollywood’s dark side came when he appeared on *The View* in 2013.

There, he reaffirmed that many of the people responsible for the abuse were still active in the industry. However, due to California’s statute of limitations, he was unable to name names without risking legal repercussions.

The silence in Hollywood isn’t limited to just the perpetrators. Feldman has pointed out that many people in the industry were aware of what was happening but chose to stay quiet.

In his book *Coreyography*, Feldman alleged that Haim was sexually assaulted on the set of the 1986 film *Lucas*. Tragically, Haim’s experiences, compounded by the abuse, led to a life of struggle, ending with his untimely death in 2010.

The issue of silence and complicity extends beyond the specific instances of abuse. Feldman has faced significant pushback from powerful figures, including Oprah Winfrey and her close friend Gayle King.

Both women, he claims, have played a role in shielding the industry from scrutiny. This has raised questions about the role of Hollywood elites in perpetuating a culture of silence.

The allegations against Oprah and others came to the forefront when singer Seal accused her of being a hypocrite during the height of the #MeToo movement.

In 2018, following Oprah’s Golden Globe speech advocating for victims of sexual abuse, Seal took to social media, accusing her of being part of the problem.

He shared a meme featuring Oprah alongside disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, with the caption: “When you’ve been part of the problem for decades but suddenly they all think you are the solution.”

Oprah’s involvement with Weinstein, who has since been convicted of numerous sexual assault charges, has raised eyebrows. While she has distanced herself from Weinstein, critics like Seal suggest that her public persona doesn’t align with her private knowledge of the industry’s dark underbelly.

These accusations have left many questioning the integrity of Hollywood’s most celebrated figures.

The discussion surrounding Hollywood’s treatment of young actors isn’t limited to the abuse allegations. Recently, supermodel Cindy Crawford shared her own unsettling experience on *The Oprah Winfrey Show*.

Reflecting on a 1986 interview, Crawford revealed that Oprah had asked her to stand up and show off her body, a moment that Crawford now describes as humiliating. “When you look at it through today’s eyes, Oprah’s like, ‘Stand up and show me your body,’” Crawford said, emphasizing that it was an inappropriate request.

While Oprah’s defenders, including Gayle King, argue that such moments have been taken out of context, Crawford’s experience is part of a larger conversation about the objectification and exploitation of young talents in Hollywood.

As more voices like Feldman and Crawford come forward, it’s clear that the entertainment industry still has a long way to go in addressing its deep-seated issues. The revelations continue to shed light on the culture of silence, complicity, and abuse that has long permeated Hollywood, sparking necessary conversations about accountability and change.