Why Should We Be Shocked That ‘Good-looking Rapists’ Might Actually Exist?
I think it is fair to say that most of us have found ourselves under the addictive spell of the hit TV series Gossip Girl, at some point in our childhoods. The majority of which can also probably share a resulting crush on the show’s archetypal bad boy, Charles Bass. Ed Westwick’s portrayal of the untamed rebel turned loving boyfriend sent women and girls in search of their very own Chuck to their Blair: the ultimate ‘relationship goals’. Therefore, when news broke that this loveable antihero of the fictional world may not be so reformed in real life, disbelief and shock dominated the tone of social media responses.
The 30-year-old actor has become the latest Hollywood star this year to be accused of sexual assault, alleged by Kristina Cohen to have raped her at his apartment three years ago. Although he has since denied this accusation, a lengthy Facebook post, as part of the #MeToo movement, shared Kristina’s horror to supposedly find the actor on top of her after she fell asleep. As of the 8th of November, a second allegation has now also been made by former actress, Aurelie Wynn who claims she went “through a very similar ordeal”, of which Ed has now also denied.
Compared to other fellow Hollywood stars accused of such assault – recently including the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. – these particular accusations seem harder to believe for most. Facebook comments on Ed’s denial post consist of calls for the actor to bring charges against his accusers, widely discrediting these stories and, in one case, summing them up as part of “this new fad of blaming boys of sexual aggression”. In this case, it is not these middle-aged privileged, rich men, or the old entertainer from the 70s/80s preying over younger generations – the Gary Glitters or the Jimmy Savilles. It is not the assumed profile conditioned by media reports, but a young man taking advantage of similarly young women and thus, doesn’t seem to fit the categorical requirements.
Why is this? There is no universal description of a sexual offender. They are not all the same age, same gender, of the same background, privilege, or share appearances. So who is to say who is or isn’t capable? In this way, there is also no single image of a victim. Whilst male youth and attractiveness can serve to promote an assumed innocence, the same for women is rather their downfall. Both Cohen and Wynn are just as young and attractive, yet this leads society to criticise their motives; they are just looking for fame, attention and money. False rape allegations have become a convenient concept in the cultural imagination, serving this desire to see the innocent side to the accused; but, in fact, only 2-10% of all allegations are estimated untrue. I wouldn’t encourage the preconception that Ed Westwick is in fact guilty – that is for the LAPD investigation to reveal – but to assume innocence from his dissimilarity to previous cases and adopt the popular path of victim-blaming is just as prejudicial.
Gossip Girl, as the platform from which Ed has built his successful career, can be seen to have played a part in the creating of such a stereotype. As much as it was approved by the mainstream, the show was hugely guilty of normalising sexual assault to the eyes and ears of a young, impressionable audience. Behind the superficial glitz and glamour of life on the Upper East Side, was an extremely problematic and nonchalant portrayal of Mr Bass’ harassing behaviours. From kissing and grabbing Serena van der Woodsen (someone whom he later becomes best friends with and step-brother to) after she says no, to attempting to rape Jenny Humphrey; the drama’s narrative moves swiftly on to the far more important issues of best friend disagreements and the high school hierarchy. Chuck, and any other assaulter for that matter, is therefore simplified as a typical ‘bad boy’: young, naïve, foolish and therefore, not responsible. In the moment, it’s all a shock, but life moves on.
No it doesn’t.
Revising these scenes can immediately serve to highlight this promotion of a certain ‘type’ of offender: the line over which young men can step becomes blurred by the façade of handsome and attractive looks. Even that comment on Ed’s post refers to the fad of “blaming boys”, not responsible men who should know better, but a seemingly innocent party. People don’t want to believe such a beautiful person is capable of such disgusting things, yet in light of Cohen and Wynn’s reports, they very well could be.
There is no part of me that in any way wants to believe that these accusations are true, for the sake of protecting the safety and increasing vulnerability of our society. However, to apply the rose-tinted perspective of Gossip Girl to these serious, real life allegations is to give into the naivety the show consequently promotes on this issue. We cannot pick and choose when victim advocacy is acceptable: a victim is a victim, whether supposedly abused by an old, wrinkly CEO, or a young, attractive actor. Why should the support of one be easier than the other?
The absence of our shock would signify the ultimate rock bottom of society’s desensitisation and thus, everyone has a right to be taken aback by this scandal. Yet, with this shock and without current counter-evidence, must always remain the very real possibility of guilt. To assume the outcome at this time is a disservice to these potential victims and any future citizens at risk if we choose wrong.
Ed Westwick and other young men can no longer be protected by a benefit of the doubt based on a superficial principle of appearance.
