James Van Der Beek Recounts Sexual Harassment by "Older, Powerful Men"

As Hollywood struggles to comprehend the wave of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the 'What Would Diplo Do?' star recounted his own story from his early days in the business.

The fallout from the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct allegations continued as James Van Der Beek added his condemnation of the "criminal" behavior, his support for the victims and his own story of harassment from "older, powerful men" when he was a young actor.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Van Der Beek began by saying that "[what] Weinstein is being accused of is criminal," calling the disgraced movie mogul's actions "unacceptable — in any industry," adding to this support to "everybody speaking out."

Van Der Beek, who made his breakthrough with the hit show Dawson's Creek in the late '90s and early 2000s, then recounted his own story revealing that he had his "ass grabbed by older, powerful men, I've had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger."

Van Der Beek added that he fully understood why women and men have been reluctant to come forward because of "the unwarranted shame, powerlessness [and] inability to blow the whistle. There's a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome."

Since the bombshell New York Times and New Yorker reports alleging Weinstein's decades of sexual misconduct, a wave of actresses in Hollywood have come forward to tell their stories about the producer including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Rose McGowan, Mira Sorvino, Asia Argento, Cara Delevigne, Lea Seydoux, Rosanna Arquette, Judith Godreche, Tomi-Ann Roberts, Katherine Kendall and Dawn Dunning.

Male actors, too, have been recounting their stories of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews revealed that "a high-level Hollywood executive" had groped his genitals at a party in front of his wife.

For anyone judging the women who stayed silent, read this for perspective. Also for anyone brushing off harassment as “boys being boys.” https://t.co/UX9xWxpn2K — James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017

What Weinstein is being accused of is criminal. What he’s admitted to is unacceptable - in any industry. I applaud everybody speaking out. — James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017

I’ve had my ass grabbed by older, powerful men, I’ve had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger... — James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) October 12, 2017