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People are posting ‘me too’ on social media to show how widespread sexual harassment is

October 15, 2017, 9:21 p.m.
The “Me too” movement apparently gained momentum after Alyssa Milano (top left) sent a call to action on Twitter. Those who responded included Anna Paquin, Debra Messing, Lady Gaga, Anika Noni Rose, Monica Lewinsky, Rosario Dawson, and Lea Thompson. Associated Press

People across the globe are standing up against sexual harassment and assault by posting the phrase “me too” on Facebook and Twitter in an effort to show how widespread the problem has become.

The movement, which caused #MeToo to trend nationwide on Twitter Sunday night, apparently gained momentum after actress Alyssa Milano sent a call to action to her more than 3 million Twitter followers.

As of Sunday at 9 p.m., Milano’s post had more than 14,000 replies, 8,000 likes, and 4,400 retweets.

The post also prompted several other celebrities, including actresses Anna Paquin and Debra Messing, to come forward.

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The posts come after The New York Times published an investigative report earlier this month detailing decades of sexual harassment allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. (Among those who have come forward include actresses Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie.) Following the initial Times report, an article was published by The New Yorker in which 13 women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing or assaulting them since the 1990s.

Wire material from The New York Times was used in this report.

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