Hollywood: the Tribe Protects Its Own

The reports of sexual harassment by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have escalated to rape:

Mr. Weinstein was accused of rape by three women and sexual harassment by 10 others in an article published by the New Yorker magazine on Tuesday morning. Soon after the article appeared online, the New York Times reported that several more actresses—including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie—said the mogul had propositioned or harassed them at early points in their careers.

When thinking about how "everyone knew"--at least in the media and entertainment industries--what Harvey Weinstein did for about 20 years, I can't help but think of what happened to Joe Paterno.

Alumni and players have called for the restoration
of Joe Paterno's statue, removed in 2012  (LA Times)

Joe Paterno was the winningest coach (409 wins) in college football history and led the Penn State Nittany Lions to two National Championships and 37 bowl appearances in 46 seasons. When his assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested in 2011 on 52 counts of child molestation that occurred from 1994 to 2009, Joe Paterno was fired. Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts in 2012.

There was some evidence that Joe Paterno knew second-hand about Sandusky's acts in 2001. He did comply with the State law at the time to report this knowledge to his superior, the Athletic Director, but did not follow up. Joe Paterno died of cancer a couple of months after he was fired, an ignominious end to a great career.

Coach Paterno's name was removed from buildings and awards, attempts were made (but ultimately failed) to deny him contractual compensation, and Penn State was fined $60 million by the NCAA. Perhaps the greatest symbol of his fall was the taking down of his statue by the University.

Some of the most famous names in Hollywood, as well as national media organizations, knew about Harvey Weinstein's crimes for over 15 years. Harvey Weinstein deserves, as did Jerry Sandusky, whatever sentences will be meted out to him, but will any of Weinstein's enablers suffer a fall equivalent to Joe Paterno's? Will any organizations be fined millions of dollars for covering up the ruination of young girls' lives? Will anyone have to return their Oscars?

We already know the answer: the tribe protects its own.