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James Van Der Beek Says He Was Sexually Harassed by 'Older, Powerful Men'

James Van Der Beek

"I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness & inability to blow the whistle," he tweeted.

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In the wake of a score of accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, James Van Der Beek revealed that he too is a survivor of sexual harassment.

The 40-year-old actor, who gained celebrity as the star of the teen drama Dawson's Creek, came forward on Twitter Wednesday about abuse he suffered in his youth.

Van Der Beek's tweets did not name offenders, prompting a flurry of social-media speculation as to their identities as well as calls to "name and shame" them. Van Der Beek has worked with a number of high-profile gay men throughout his entertainment career, including Dawson's Creek'sshowrunner, Kevin Williamson.

In response, Van Der Beek tweeted the following:

Van Der Beek is not the only celebrity to speak out on behalf of male survivors. On Tuesday, Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews also took to Twitter to recount abuse from a "high level Hollywood executive."

In telling their stories, both men stress the reality that Weinstein's alleged abusive behavior is symptomatic of a wider problem of power abuse in the entertainment industry.

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Daniel Reynolds

Daniel Reynolds is the editor of social media for The Advocate. A native of New Jersey, he writes about entertainment, health, and politics.
Daniel Reynolds is the editor of social media for The Advocate. A native of New Jersey, he writes about entertainment, health, and politics.