#WomenBoycottTwitter: Rose McGowan's account suspension sparks protest

Her account was suspended after she spoke out about disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein
Suspended: US actress Rose McGowan
Paul Zimmerman/Getty
Chloe Chaplain13 October 2017
The Weekender

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Women across the globe have rallied behind Rose McGowan and vowed to boycott Twitter after her account was temporarily suspended when she spoke out about Harvey Weinstein.

The actress used the social media platform to discuss sexual harassment in Hollywood in the wake of allegations made against the disgraced film mogul.

Thousands of women are now using the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter in a show of solidarity with the actress and in protest against “women’s voices being silenced”.

McGowan herself tweeted a message about the protest on Friday, writing: “At midnight we rise.”

The hashtag began trending globally on Friday morning.

Several celebrities backed the protest, including model Chrissy Teigen who wrote: “Ladies. Let's do this. #WomenBoycottTwitter.

“Not because of hate but because I love this platform and know it can be better. I'm boycotting for many reasons. To stand with the victims of sexual assault, online threats and abuse.”

On Wednesday, McGowan had posted about allegations of sexual assault against Weinstein that had been widely reported on in recent days.

Accusations: Actress Rose McGowan with Harvey Weinstein 
Getty

Her account was then suspended by Twitter administrators, who said it was because she had breached policy by publishing a personal phone number.

But the social media company came under fire and was accused of having double standards – with many pointing out that Fox Business Network anchor Lou Dobbs, who tweeted the address and phone number of Jessica Leeds after she accused President Trump of groping her, did not have his account suspended. Trump strongly denied this allegation.

Shortly after her account was active again, McGowan publically accused Weinstein of raping her.

She had spoken out about being raped by a studio head in the past, but had not named Weinstein before.

After McGowan's account was suspened, a Twitter spokesman said: "We have been in touch with Ms. McGowan's team. We want to explain that her account was temporarily locked because one of her Tweets included a private phone number, which violates of our Terms of Service.

"The Tweet was removed and her account has been unlocked. We will be clearer about these policies and decisions in the future.

"Twitter is proud to empower and support the voices on our platform, especially those that speak truth to power. We stand with the brave women and men who use Twitter to share their stories, and will work hard every day to improve our processes to protect those voices."

British and US police are investigating allegations made again Weinstein after some of the industry’s biggest names came forward and accused him of sexual harassment or assault.

Kate Beckinsale was the latest British celebrity to speak out by revealing an alleged encounter when she was a schoolgirl, following accusations from stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevingne.

Actress Sophie Dix - who once starred alongside Colin Firth - claimed Weinstein had pinned her down in a hotel room when she was 22. And three women previously accused Weinstein of rape in an article in the New Yorker.

Weinstein has apologised for causing “pain”, but a spokesman for him said: “Allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied.”

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