【softcore eroticism】

“I just want you to let you know that Harvey’s a rapist and softcore eroticismthis is going to come out at some point."

That's what Lena Dunham says she told the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign about Harvey Weinstein, reports the latest New York Timespiece on the disgraced producer, who is facing sexual assault and harassment accusations from over 100 women.

SEE ALSO: Women in Film launches help line for victims of sexual harassment

The piece, titled "Weinstein’s Complicity Machine," unpacks his "enablers, silencers and spies," recruited to warn potential accusers against speaking out, and his courtship of those in power (especially in politics) to increase his influence.

Then Secretary of State Clinton and Weinstein attend the TIME 100 Gala, TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World, cocktail party at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for TIME

According to the Times, during the 2016 presidential race, Girls writer and actor Dunham was one of two women — magazine editor Tina Brown was the other — who reportedly warned Clinton aides about Weinstein's behaviour, but no action was taken.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Dunham was apparently "troubled" by Weinstein's presence at Clinton presidential campaign events.

She had heard stories, both directly and secondhand from other actresses, about disturbing encounters with him, she said. So in March last year, Ms. Dunham, a vocal Clinton supporter, said she warned the campaign.

In the Timesinterview, Dunham says she approached Clinton's team point blank — not Clinton herself, though — with a strong warning to an apparently "surprised" Kristina Schake, deputy communications director for the Clinton campaign.

“I just want you to let you know that Harvey’s a rapist and this is going to come out at some point,” Ms. Dunham said she told Kristina Schake, the campaign’s deputy communications director. She recalled adding, “I think it’s a really bad idea for him to host fund-raisers and be involved because it’s an open secret in Hollywood that he has a problem with sexual assault.”

Dunham also says she warned Adrienne Elrod, a spokeswoman for Clinton who associated with celebrities during the campaign. Both Schake and Elrod "denied that Ms. Dunham had mentioned rape" at all, while Dunham told the Timesshe believes Clinton never received any of her warnings from the campaign team.

Dunham, of course, has recently faced some complicated backlash after defending a Girlswriter accused of sexual assault.

But she wouldn't be the only one who warned people about Weinstein.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Bitcoin just made the Winklevoss twins billionaires

---

• Entertainment
• Life
• Science
• Digital Culture
• Games
• Deals
• Tech
• Social Good

• Best iPad deal: Save $70 on 10th Gen Apple iPad
• This app lets you donate wish list items to homeless people you pass every day
• What one video game developer organization is doing to combat Trump’s immigration ban
• Facebook blocks famous nude artwork and feels the internet's ire
• Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks 2025 livestream: Watch NBA online
• Gloria Steinem refuses to talk sh*t about Emma Watson, obviously
• Uber's Travis Kalanick: Yep, I'm a jerk, basically
• Mindset headphones train listeners to concentrate better
• How Nicole Rafiee creates content for the chronically online
• Little thief experiences pure terror when almost caught sneaking a drink

• 'The View' hosts reacting to the Flynn news is the definition of joy
• Matt Lauer's Twitter account is gone after sexual harassment scandal
• Omg 'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp' is getting Christmas
• Horrific 2017 Atlantic hurricane season ends with many still reeling
• Apple will go red for World AIDS Day
• Jimmy Kimmel comes for Roy Moore and his 'Christian values' with one perfect tweet
• Google launches Datally, Android app to help users save on data
• Amazon Mechanical Turk workers complete unexpected online tasks
• I am the epitome of a male feminist and here's my secret
• Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle 'has nothing to do' with 'Riverdale' drugs

• Best Presidents' Day deal: Save $250 on Peloton Bike
• This is why Emma Watson avoids taking selfies with her fans
• Pinterest doubles down on AI because 'most of Pinterest hasn’t been built yet'
• This openly gay football player is about to make history
• What Sa Nguyen uses to film TikToks that feel like FaceTime
• Why the internet was so screwed up today
• A volcano just erupted in Europe and the footage is amazing
• We tested Google's new harassment tool on hateful right
• Broncos vs. Bills 2025 livestream: How to watch NFL online
• Uber's Travis Kalanick: Yep, I'm a jerk, basically

• Best MacBook deal: Get $200 off 2024 Apple MacBook Air
• New 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' trailer is all that and Kurt Russell
• There might be a real
• Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have apparently broken up
• Apple is advertising on Elon Musk's X again
• Trump was caught practicing his speech, so the internet made jokes
• Twitter Eggs and trolls are now finally getting the banhammer they deserve
• Soon you'll be able to watch TV on YouTube for $35 a month
• Many Indigenous communities still lack broadband internet. Here's why.
• Gloria Steinem refuses to talk sh*t about Emma Watson, obviously