Cara Delevingne has revealed she decided not to report sexual harassment because she ‘felt ashamed and didn’t want to publicly ruin someone’s life.’
The model and actress, 26, took to Twitter on Wednesday to join thousands of women sharing their stories of abuse and sexual harassment using the hashtag WhyIDidntReport.
Cara wrote: ‘Because I felt ashamed of what happened and didn’t want to publicly ruin someone’s life, even though they privately ruined mine #WhyIDidntReport (sic)’
Shocking: Cara Delevingne has revealed she did not report being sexually harassed because she ‘felt ashamed and didn’t want to publicly ruin someone’s life’
The Vogue coverstar did not name her alleged attacker in her post, but in October 2017 publicly accused disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment.
In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, the star said that after meeting Weinstein, who is new facing rape charges in New York, at a hotel lobby he asked her to come up to his room, where another woman was waiting for the pair.
Weinstein then told the two women to kiss, which Delevingne said that she got out of by suddenly breaking into song.
Then, when she announced that she had to leave, Weinstein tried to kiss her on the lips as she prepared to walk out the door.
Brave: The model and actress, 26, took to Twitter to join thousands of women sharing their stories of abuse and sexual harassment using the hashtag WhyIDidntReport
She said that she still got the part in the film, and has felt guilty about it ever since.
The actress has filmed two movies for the Weinstein Company, including her breakout role in their 2015 picture ‘Paper Towns’ and the recently released ‘Tulip Fever.’
In a lengthy message on the photo-sharing website, she said: ‘As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature.
‘He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn’t and wouldn’t be for a bit and I should go to his room. At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn’t want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation.
Speaking out: The Vogue coverstar did not name her alleged attacker in her post, but in October 2017 went public with allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein
‘When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing….i thought it would make the situation better….more professional….like an audition….i was so nervous.
‘After singing I said again that I had to leave. He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room. (sic)’
She added: ‘I was so hesitant about speaking out….I didn’t want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong.
‘I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear.’
#WhyIDidn’tReport has risen to prominence in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump’s nominee for the US Supreme Court.
Alleged: In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram , the British model-turned-actress said that after meeting Weinstein, who is new facing rape charges in New York, had made advances towards her in a hotel room
Kavanaugh has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by at least two women, and is due to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The alleged offences happened decades ago and President Trump questioned why charges had not been filed immediately, ‘if the attack… was as bad as she (the alleged victim) says’.
Cara joins celebrities including Padma Lakshmi, Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd who have tweeted their experiences of alleged sexual assault using the hashtag.
Presenter Padma said she was raped when she was 16 but did not come forward because ‘the victim is treated like the perpetrator’.
Mira said she reported an alleged assault when she was a teenager but ‘nothing came of it’ and she later felt ‘I wasn’t important enough to make a big deal over’.
Weinstein has denied allegations on non-consensual sex.
Movement: Cara joins celebrities including Padma Lakshmi, Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd who have tweeted their experiences of alleged sexual assault using the hashtag