NPR: Court Watson recalls hearing once that William Ivey Long was "a tornado made of chiffon." How lucky was he, Watson thought, as just a college student, to have the chance to learn from the very best in the business — a true legend in Broadway costume design.
The most powerful and successful people are always the ones who end up having the darkest and most harmful secrets to keep. If the Me-Too movement proved anything, it is that little will actually happen to punish sexual abusers for their crimes. Perhaps this time it will be different, but that is a long shot. William Ivey Long sounds like a horrible, manipulative person. Using your position to manipulate and take advantage of young people, especially in a sexually abusive manner, is abhorrent. Grooming in entertainment is so unfortunately common, though we usually hear of it happening to women. I hope the men who are speaking out feel empowered in their voice and have the strength to endure this fight, and I hope people respect and believe them. Male assault survivors are often overlooked, so I cannot imagine how difficult and scary this must be for them. I believe them, and I hope William Ivey Long pays for the pain he put them through.
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