No one should have to face harassment in the workplace, much less retaliation for reporting it, but here we are again. Abigail Breslin is the latest in a line of women to come out against unprofessional behavior by co-stars on and off the set. She's not only coming out with an allegation but adding that industry professionals called her "hysterical." On top of that, she's received a lawsuit in response to reporting a co-star.
To sum up the situation, Breslin made a confidential report against a former coworker for acting unprofessionally. The young actress didn't elaborate on the offense or specify which movie she had those negative experiences. However, whatever she said, it forced an unidentified party's hand.
What makes matters worse is Breslin faced legal action following her complaint. The plaintiff withdrew the complaint, but the fact that they submitted one in the first place says they were prepared to retaliate. Instead of attempting mediation or a different form of resolving the situation, the person in question resorted to an extreme measure like a lawsuit. That doesn't imply guilt, though it shows what people see as acceptable behavior in response to serious accusations.
The unfortunate thing is Breslin is one more woman in a long list of actresses who encountered harassment in the workplace and felt safe reporting it, only to receive backlash for speaking up. Ashley Judd, Blake Lively, Kate Beckinsale, the list of actresses who've experienced similar treatment goes on and on, which is a shame.
As far as who is the culprit responsible, they remain unnamed. Breslin hasn't specified who made her uncomfortable, nor has she namedropped a movie set as the place. Her allegations sound recent, so it's perhaps one of the more contemporary projects she's worked on.
Regardless of the location, Breslin's story reiterates why more transparency is needed. Actresses can't be afraid to come forward because they hear from their colleagues that a serious complaint resulted in legal action. It's no different than an employee receiving disrespectful treatment from a coworker and then a second round of it from their boss for pointing it out. That's not an environment actors should have to work in, much less anyone else.
Hopefully, Breslin doesn't receive any more negative retaliation for making her voice heard. She did the brave thing by coming forward, which will perhaps convince others to come forward. There'll always be a risk of backlash, but one more story out in the world proves that staying silent is never the answer. Breslin can be seen in the upcoming movie, Saturday at the Starlight.
The Italians' release date is TBA.