The #MeToo movement went viral on social media when, on 15 October 2017, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted #MeToo. Her tweet encouraged women who have been sexually abused to share their experiences on social media, including the hashtag, to demonstrate the prevalence of sexual harassment. By early November 2017, #MeToo had been retweeted 23 million times in 85 countries.
The political climate and widespread social media use helped #MeToo promulgate its message and affect numerous industries throughout the United States. Owing to distinct legal and cultural factors, the movement has taken different forms and has had a varying impact across the world.
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The Me Too campaign was founded by Tarana Burke in 2007 as part of the work she was doing to provide resources to victims of sexual harassment and assault. The campaign went viral on social media after Alyssa Milano asked followers on Twitter to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault using the phrase ‘Me too’. In just 24 hours, more than 12 million posts and reactions had included #MeToo. By 24 October 2017, the media were reporting that more than 1.7 million tweets across 85 countries had included #MeToo.
Milano’s tweet was set against a historic Hollywood backdrop: on 5 October 2017, the New York Times reported on allegations by numerous women of sexual assault and harassment against former film producer Harvey Weinstein. The allegations spanned three decades and came from women across the entire spectrum of film experience. Weinstein announced his departure from the Weinstein Company the same day; he was officially fired three days later from the powerful production company he had co-founded. On 10 October 2017, the New Yorker released another bombshell report of multiple women accusing Weinstein of rape and harassment. Four days later, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences removed Weinstein from its ranks. Numerous other distinguished film groups followed suit in the subsequent weeks. In the months that followed, women broke their silence and accused men working in industries ranging from Hollywood to politics of sexual harassment. The sheer number of allegations could not be ignored and many men faced swift consequences in their workplace and in the public’s opinion. Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Eric Schneiderman are just some of the numerous prominent, well-known men who were accused of sexual harassment and consequently either left or lost their jobs. Weinstein has since been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 90 women, including for sexual harassment, assault or rape. In December 2019, Weinstein reached a US$47 million settlement with his former film studio’s executive board and several women who had accused him of misconduct, US$25 million of which has been designated to go to his accusers. On 24 February 2020, a New York State jury convicted Weinstein of a first-degree criminal sexual act. On 11 March 2020, Weinstein was sentenced by a New York State judge to 23 years in prison for the sexual assault of two women. On 12 April 2021, Weinstein was indicted on 11 counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles County.2 His trial took place in autumn 2022, with eight former actors and models testifying that they were assaulted by Weinstein.3 On 19 December 2022, jurors found Weinstein guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault.4
The Me Too movement existed for more than a decade before it truly gained momentum and resulted in tangible consequences for those accused. The current political climate is likely to have contributed to #MeToo’s success. Many Americans feel more politically inclined and take more political action following the results of the 2016 presidential election. An estimated 5.2 million marchers across 653 affiliated marches attended the first planned Women’s March the day after President Trump’s 2017 inauguration.5 Inspired political action, coupled with social media’s influence and widespread use, contributes to an environment that makes #MeToo’s success possible.
