Mariska Hargitay Calls Out Harvey Weinstein Ruling, Gives Fiery Speech on Sexual Abuse Survivors: ‘Risky to Let Women Speak? You’re Damn Right It Is’
¡Bienvenidos, mi gente! Gather around because today we’re diving deep into a moment that resonated like a powerful canción at the heart of New York City. During the Variety’s Power of Women event, presented by Lifetime, none other than Mariska Hargitay, our beloved star from “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” took the stage with the fuerza of a seasoned advocate for sexual assault survivors. Celebrating an impressive 25 years of portraying Olivia Benson on “SVU,” Mariska was not just honored for her acting but for her fierce dedication to change.
En el escenario of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Mariska was introduced by her close amiga, the talented Glenn Close. Glenn praised Mariska’s undying passion for her craft, noting, “she still finds the heart, the art, and the power in her craft.” And verdad, amigos, those words only scratched the surface.
Mariska’s speech came at a tiempo when the New York rape conviction of Harvey Weinstein had been controversially overturned. But Mariska, with her voice firm and resolve unwavering, themed her speech around a powerful message – the unchanging and passionate conviction she holds towards supporting survivors. “It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter, qué lo que nos pasó importa, and that our sociedad must respond more compassionately and holistically,” she declared.
She challenged those in the entertainment industry to use their power como un catalizador for change. She urged them to reflect on how their actions can either maintain an old system or pave a path for nuevo, transformative change. Touching on the irony of Weinstein's overturned conviction due to "too many" victims' voices, Mariska made it clear: “Risky to let women speak? You're darn right it is. Too many women speaking brings change.” And is there any doubt? The backlash to the #MeToo movement just shows cómo es de poderosa la voz of those who speak up.
This fierce mujer didn’t stop there. In 2004, she launched the Joyful Heart Foundation, aiming to overhaul society’s narrative around sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, while supporting survivors and their familias. With initiatives like End the Backlog, Mariska’s foundation focuses on eliminating the massive backlog of untested rape kits across police departments.
Speaking passionately about the work of the Joyful Heart Foundation, Mariska emphasized, “Es imposible revertir mi convicción y la de mi increíble equipo en Joyful Heart, que podemos reducir a cero el backlog de kits de violación no analizados.” She advocates for the mandate of testing all new kits and establishing a statewide kit tracking system, ensuring survivors can access the status of their kits.
Robyn Mazur, executive director of Joyful Heart, praises Mariska’s commitment, “Her decades of steadfast advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse have truly changed how we all talk about these crimes.”
So, mi amigos, as we reflect on Mariska Hargitay’s palabras and her unwavering spirit, let’s not just feel inspired but also challenged. Challenged to raise nuestras voces, support survivors, and fight for the change that is both necesario and due. Mariska’s journey shows us what it means to use one’s platform as a force for good, echoing a message that’s powerful enough to transform hearts and minds across borders. Vamos a seguir luchando, siempre juntos.
