Today, Rose McGowan is at the frontlines of the #MeToo movement, pushing for change and transparency. But getting to this point has been a two-decade long journey of planning and strategizing for the actress and activist. McGowan told Cheddar that ever since Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1997, she “set about going after him.” “[In] a very David vs. Goliath sort of way, I took a TV show that was not my pace,” she said, referring to her role as Paige Matthews in the hit show “Charmed.” “But strategically...I knew if I could go into the show and hang on, when it was time to press the button so to speak, it would be newsworthy all over the world.” Her determination to bring down Weinstein and upend Hollywood’s male-dominated structure is also driven by her childhood experience as part of the cult “Children of God,” which she said has many parallels with Hollywood. “Anytime you have a power structure with a few people at the top [who] are benefiting, and you aren’t, and you’re all doing things collectively that make it better for them…that really is the definition of a cult,” she explained. Hollywood “is a pretty beastly place” that is “making the mirror for you to look in,” which puts it in a dangerously powerful position, she said. Still, McGowan said she’s “inherently optimistic” and hasn’t let her experiences harden her. She recounts her journey of dealing with sexual assault in her new book “Brave.” For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rose-mcgowan-on-the-hollywood-cult).

Share:
More In Culture
Anxious Overthinker? Time To Try a Brain Dump
If you have noisy and overwhelming thoughts in your head, you might want to try a brain dump. A brain dump is the physical act of untangling your brain and getting all your thoughts, anxieties, fears, ideas, errands, and complaints in one place. It might sound daunting, but it's easier and more rewarding than you'd think. People who have tried a brain dump for just one week have actually reported an easier time focusing, a clearer head, and an easier time staying organized on day to day tasks. Dr. Marsha Brown, a forensic and clinical psychologist, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Winter Olympics: Sports, Politics, and COVID
The Winter Olympics is slowly winding down with a lot of competition left. Boston Globe Reporter Nicole Yang, joined Cheddar to discuss more on what we can expect to see and some of the hiccups surrounding the games this year.
President Biden Unveils New Sanctions Against Russia
Within hours of Russia's first attack on Ukraine, President Joe Biden addressed the nation by stating that the White House will impose wider sanctions on Russian banks. These sanctions could result in damage to the Russian economy. Host of "Oh My World" on Youtube and Former Spokesperson for the U. S. Mission to the U. N. Hagar Chemali, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Leafly CEO on Big 2021 Cannabis Jobs Growth, Looking Ahead to NJ, NY Adult Use
Even amid the Great Resignation, the cannabis industry saw major job growth. As of January 2022, the legal industry supported more than 428,000 jobs — a 33 percent increase year-over-year, according to the sixth annual jobs report from Leafly, a website focused on cannabis use and education. Yoko Miyashita, CEO of Leafly, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. “You know we've got big moments coming ahead in New Jersey and New York with adult-use sales starting in New Jersey, hopefully by this fall, with New York quickly to follow," she said. "So we're hugely optimistic about the kind of job growth that those markets can drive with the right type of market setup.
Load More