Shia LaBeouf recently alleged that he was raped when he took part in an art installation called #IAMNOTSORRY earlier this year. The allegation lends us an opportunity to witness the collective societal response to rape claims in the media—a media that, to my dismay, is quick to discredit those claims. Though clarifications are needed to understand what truly occurred, we need not treat this allegation like a simple publicity stunt.
Speculation litters every corner of this seemingly bizarre public declaration. LaBeouf was arrested in June after interrupting a performance of Cabaret and claimed his arrest was due in part to an “existential crisis.”
Because of the arrest and a few other public behaviors that would have the media paint LaBeouf as a troubled actor, the immediate public instinct was to assume he fabricated rape claims to justify his mental collapse over the past few months. Others say it is LaBeouf making a statement about how people treat the culture around art, etc. For the most part, the reaction has been one of blaming LaBeouf or questioning his sanity, rather than assessing the seriousness of rape.
Taking LaBeouf’s claims seriously will help put an end to the cultured response to victim blame. Whether the claims are true or not, they have serious implications. Yes, there is a possibility he might be “crying rape” to the media, which would take away from the merit and seriousness of other rape victims’ claims—this would be a true danger.
However, the current buzz around LaBeouf has a power that can bring much needed attention to how we respond to rape and sexual assault allegations.
No one, no matter his or her mental condition, how many addictions one suffers or how many mistakes one has made, deserves the trauma of being sexually assaulted—man or woman, young or old and famous or not.
As rape and sexual assault have victimized more women than men, it is still important to address the concerns of rape against men. Once men are acquainted and aware of their own vulnerability to sexual assault and the social power dynamics it implies, society can better address rape culture as a whole.
People are beginning to speak much more openly about rape in the media, and, though it seems we are making strides as a society to end victim blaming and quickly discrediting rape victims, it still happens all the time. The recent allegations against Bill Cosby prove that women are beginning to feel more comfortable coming forward and speaking up about sexual trauma they have experienced. However, talking to friends and family during the Thanksgiving holiday about Cosby being a serial rapist, I found that most are quick to say, “The women are just looking for settlements,” or, “They just want their 10 minutes of fame.”
When people bring rape allegations to the media, the public is quick to discredit them. This attitude needs to change, and hopefully we can begin to use the media as a defender of social justice in regards to rape and sexual assault.
We need a dialogue about sexual abuse, and taking LaBeouf seriously would let people know that men can be raped too. Allowing LaBeouf to be made a mockery in the public eye for claiming to be raped will only allow rape culture to succeed and prevail.
Hopefully, this is an event that will bring awareness and support to victims of rape and sexual assault and not detract from the seriousness of the issue. Taking LaBeouf seriously is a step we need to take in ending the victim blaming of rape victims.
