Thread by @dgrahamcaso

I had a hard time reading this today, but it is important that it was written and you should share it broadly. (Ridiculously long thread to follow) hollywoodreporter.com/features/every…

The article was a challenging read because Kevin worked for Scott Rudin as his executive assistant in 2008 and 2009, and suffered much of the same abuse described in this article. (2/16)

I don’t believe that the abuse Scott Rudin’s inflicted on my brother alone caused Kevin to kill himself - but I think Rudin’s abuse was undeniably a factor in the mental health issues Kevin suffered in the final years of his life. (3/16)

Exactly as described by @TatianaSiegel27 in her @THR cover story, Rudin “soft fired” Kevin over and over again, demeaned and abused him, and once even threw him from a moving car in a fit of anger. (4/16)

Kevin developed a severe anxiety disorder in his time working for Rudin, and saw therapists on and off for the remainder of his life. (5/16)

Just a few months before Kevin died, he texted me, asking if I could talk. I responded that I could and he sent back “Read just the first part of this and then call.” (6/16)

He then sent a link to a Vulture article, which had just been published, about Hollywood assistants speaking out about abuse they had suffered from bosses. (7/16) vulture.com/2020/02/anonym…

The #MeToo movement had opened up space for them to speak out (albeit indirectly), and the piece included anonymous testimonials describing horrific harassment and abuse. (8/16)

I began to read the first entry, titled “A phone assistant for a film producer” and it quickly became clear why Kevin needed to talk. (9/16)

The entry- about how a famous film producer made assistants work 14-hour days filled with abusive behavior and how it took a physical toll on the assistant as their mental health broke down was incredibly familiar - because I had heard Kevin describe the exact same abuse. (10/16)

I called and he confirmed what I had assumed.

“It’s Rudin, 1000%” he said before either of us could say hello. “So much so it just induced a panic attack that made me throw up like I did when I used to work for him.” (11/16)

We spoke more, wondering aloud how Rudin had escaped his deserved comeuppance so far, and Kevin mentioned the legal paperwork he had to sign and clear pattern of retaliation (now described in the @THR piece) as his best guesses. (12/16)

Kevin deserved better than the abuse Scott Rudin inflicted on him. The people who have suffered similar abuse from Rudin, and in similar workplaces, deserve better. (13/16)

My brother never considered speaking out. He demonstrated exactly the paralyzing fear of a lack of support when standing up to a powerful executive that so frequently keeps people from standing up to abuse. (14/16)

But Kevin is gone now, and as Rudin’s long-deserved reckoning finally arrives - and hopefully sticks- I’m asking that you help share this piece to make sure people know what a shallow, petty, bully of a person Scott Rudin really is. (15/16) hollywoodreporter.com/features/every… @meganeellison

Kevin would have had a hard time reading this piece. It would have brought up a lot of very painful experiences and trauma. But it was his truth and I hope you will join me in sharing it.

Thank you. (16/16)