Who can forget how Professor Anita Hill was publicly demonized by an all-male Senate Judiciary Committee after she testified in 1991 about the alleged sexual harassment from her former employer, Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas?

Ultimately, Thomas was confirmed and Hill was left with the deep humiliation cast upon her by members of the Committee who sought to discredit her. If Hill took any solace from the ordeal, it is that she became a national hero for many women and helped light the spark that would ultimately ignite the #MeToo movement.

Hill’s testimony, however, was not enough to protect women from unfair scrutiny when they make such allegations. This is nowhere truer than in Hollywood, which has always had a “woman problem.”

Since its earliest days, the industry has idolized and deified female actors for their beauty, allure, and talent. From original screen sirens like Clara Bow and Lauren Bacall to blonde bombshells like Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow.

However, Hollywood has never hesitated to turn on these same women if they speak out about abuse or misconduct by powerful figures in the industry.

A prime example is the 1920s manslaughter trial of film star Fatty Arbuckle, in which his lawyers painted a damning picture of his alleged victim, Virginia Rappe, as a heavy drinker, someone who frequently disrobed at parties, and a sexually promiscuous woman—all in an effort to sway the jury in favor of the beloved actor. After two mistrials, a jury in a third trial deliberated a little more than five minutes before acquitting Arbuckle of all the charges against him, according to an article posted on PBS.org.

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