Four years ago, the #MeToo movement exposed a broad range of sexual misconduct in the broadcasting and film industries. Hundreds of people, mostly men, faced accusations on everything from rape to using their power to gain sexual favors.
Fox News Radio host Guy Benson talked about the #MeToo period during his syndicated show Tuesday and the impact that disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s convictions had on #MeToo.
Benson’s comments came after a Los Angeles jury Monday found Weinstein guilty again of sexually assaulting an unnamed actress in 2013.
“So, the #MeToo movement in my mind has been a mixed bag,” said Benson. “In some important ways it has been a needed and long-overdue reckoning, I think it also went too far in other ways.”
Last year, Oscar-nominated actress Debra Winger told Fox News Digital that the #MeToo had gone “too far.” In an unrelated story, Fox News reportedly paid $1 million as part of a broader settlement after an investigation into patterns of sexual harassment and retribution at the cable news channel.
Benson said in some cases, #MeToo allowed due process to be abused where serious crimes like rape were conflated with sexual jokes that might have offended someone.
“It was all just lumped into this category of #MeToo and I think some people have been unfairly treated,” he said. “Especially at the zenith of that moment where there was perhaps an overcorrection in some ways.”
Benson added that he expects Weinstein to spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes that he’s been convicted of.
“Harvey Weinstein is very much not a victim of any kind of overreaction,” Benson added. “He was a predator for years. His money, his power, his privilege, and his proximity to power insulated him for a very long time.”
