Meryl Streep Targeted in Harvey Weinstein "She Knew" Poster Campaign

Despite repeatedly saying she didn't know about the producer's past alleged sexual misconduct against women, she has still been made the target of a street artist who claims otherwise

By Corinne Heller Dec 20, 2017 8:34 PMTags

While Meryl Streep has repeatedly said she didn't know about producer Harvey Weinstein's past alleged sexual assault and harassment against women, she has still been made the target of a street artist who claims otherwise.

Posters showing a 2012 press photo of the two smiling together, with a red bar containing the words "She knew" placed over the actress' eyes, have begun popping up around Los Angeles. Their creator has not been identified publicly. Streep has not commented on the posters, which also contain a QR code that leads you to a Bitcoin address.

Since October, dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment. Several including actress Rose McGowan, have accused him of rape. He has apologized for his past behavior with colleagues but denies taking part in non-consensual sex.

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Hollywood's Many Men Accused of Sexual Misconduct
John Shearer/WireImage

Last week, it was revealed that actresses are planning on wearing all black to the 2018 Golden Globes to protest sexual harassment. Streep is expected to attend, as she is one of the nominees.

Two days later, McGowan tweeted, "Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You'll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy."

Streep said in a statement in response that she wants to let McGowan know that she did not know about Weinstein's alleged acts towards women over the past couple of decades and "wasn't deliberately silent."

"I didn't know. I don't tacitly approve of rape," she said. "I didn't know. I don't like young women being assaulted. I didn't know this was happening. I don't know where Harvey lives, nor has he ever been to my home. I have never in my life been invited to his hotel room. I have been to his office once, for a meeting with Wes Craven for Music of the Heart in 1998."

In addition to the film Music of the Heart, Weinstein also co-produced The Giver and August: Osage County, which all starred Streep.

In October, after the initial allegations against Weinstein were made public, Streep said in a statement, "Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally. I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game."

In November, Streep talked about the Weinstein allegations in an on-camera interview with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, who is believed to have inspired the actress' boss character in The Devil Wears Prada. Streep said she discusses him all the time with her three daughters.

"Harvey Weinstein, that's all we talk about," she said. "It's horrible. You know, we want them to be free. We want them to be proud. We want them to be female. But you can't...you put them in dangers by not informing them about the male gaze and how it works on young girls."