Talent Agent Adam Venit On Leave After Terry Crews Sexual Assault Allegations
On October 10, actor Terry Crews shared on Twitter the story of how a “high-level” executive had sexually assaulted him at a party that he attended with his wife. Crews did not name the executive out of fear that it would harm his career. However, sources close to the actor and former football player say he was planning to finally name names and that person is Adam Venit, an agent at WME.
Terry Crews said that the Harvey Weinstein situation was giving him PTSD because it had also happened to him. Crews hadn’t been a victim of Weinstein but of another powerful man in the entertainment industry who felt emboldened to grope Terry Crews out in the open.
Crews recently opened up about the encounter on Twitter.
“My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high-level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates. Jumping back I said What are you doing?! My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk.”
Terry Crews said that his impulse was to “stomp the guy,” but he refrained from acting, and instead, Crews talked to others who knew the person. He explained that the man called the next day to apologize. Terry Crews said he felt that if he named the man, it would harm his career.
Terry Crews was reportedly just about to name Venit when WME knowing of Crews’ accusation put him on a leave of absence while the claim is investigated. Crews was right: Venit does represent big names in Hollywood, including Sylvester Stallone, Diane Keaton, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, and Dustin Hoffman. Adam Venit also oversees the agency’s finance and distribution team, WME Global.
Terry Crews explained that he brought up the topic after women started telling their stories on social media, and he intended to come forward with the name soon. For the record, Terry Crews is a WME client but is not repped by Adam Venit.
The official line from WME is that Adam Venit is still employed by the company pending an investigation, but Venit is on a leave of absence. Ironically, Venit is a rep for Dustin Hoffman and Brett Ratner, who are both involved in their own sexual harassment scandals.
WME's Adam Venit on leave amid sexual harassment allegations involving actor Terry Crews (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/IMKtI3ZECC pic.twitter.com/w4xhUYy7Cr
— Variety (@Variety) November 3, 2017
Terry Crews says that he also didn’t react to the groping by grabbing the man because he feared the possible headlines.
“‘240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho’ would be the headline the next day. Only I probably wouldn’t have been able to read it because I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL. So we left.”
Terry Crews said that he understood how the female victims of Harvey Weinstein and others felt when they were being cajoled into sex.
“Who’s going to believe you? (few) What are the repercussions? (many) Do you want to work again? (yes) Are you prepared to be ostracized? (no).”
Crews said that he came forward primarily to let others know that they are not alone.
“Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless.”
Are you surprised that Terry Crews came forward to tell his story? Do you think WME did the right thing by putting agent Adam Venit on leave?
[Featured Image by Diego Corredor/AP Images]
