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Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Jennifer Lopez’s longtime producing partner, has shed light on the deeply entrenched culture of misogyny and abuse that has pervaded Hollywood for decades. Ahead of the release of her debut novel Climbing in Heels, Goldsmith-Thomas opened up in an interview with Page Six about her personal experiences in the industry, drawing from her time as a secretary at the William Morris Agency in the early ’80s.
Goldsmith-Thomas revealed that figures like Harvey Weinstein, now infamous for his sexual misconduct, were not outliers but were part of the systemic culture of exploitation that many women in Hollywood faced. The producer discussed how sexual harassment was so normalized that it was not even concealed. She recounted troubling memories from her early career, such as men in the mail room openly asking for sexual favors, an experience that underscores the pervasive nature of harassment at the time.
The producer also shared a chilling account of how she narrowly avoided becoming a victim of Bill Cosby’s alleged abuse. Cosby’s executive secretary once asked her to bring some contracts to his hotel, The Beverly Wilshire. However, after being warned by a colleague, Goldsmith-Thomas wisely declined, preventing a potentially dangerous situation.
Goldsmith-Thomas’s novel Climbing in Heels may be a fictional story about three young women working at a Hollywood agency, but it reflects many of the real-life challenges and abuses she witnessed. She also shared the heartbreaking reality for actresses during that era—many of whom had to endure sexual exploitation just to secure an audition or casting call. Goldsmith-Thomas emphasized that she had witnessed actresses being sexually abused by powerful men in the industry, with the casting couch culture being a disturbing norm.
Despite the grim realities, Goldsmith-Thomas credited the #MeToo movement with sparking significant changes in Hollywood, acknowledging that while not all men in the industry were perpetrators, a significant number were. Her personal and professional journey is a testament to the resilience and strength of women in the face of systemic abuse in an industry that is now slowly beginning to reckon with its past.
Darren Star, the creator of Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, is already working on adapting Climbing in Heels into a TV show, which will further shine a light on the struggles faced by women in Hollywood.