The Daily Skimm

The Story

More abuse survivors are stepping forward.

Explain.

Over the last few years, the #MeToo movement has opened the doors for sexual assault or harassment survivors to come forward and share their stories. But the fight against sexual violence is far from over. The CDC has found that nearly 1 in 5 women (and 1 in 38 men) have survived an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. But one report has found that only 23% of survivors of rape or sexual assault have reported the attacks. Some survivors are just starting to reveal their abuse, after years of battling feelings of shame, and fears of not being believed, or of retribution. Now, there are new allegations against three famous men in the film, music, and political spheres:

Armie Hammer…Last month, an Instagram account posted screenshots of alleged messages from the actor dating back years. In them, Hammer reportedly expressed disturbing sexual fantasies of cannibalism and rape, affairs, and sexual misconduct. Since then, at least two women have come forward with stories alleging abuse. One woman claimed Hammer groomed her, made her feel unsafe, and manipulated her into sex acts. Another woman said he branded her body by carving an "A" on her pelvis and physically abused her. Hammer said he would not respond "to these bullsh*t claims" and has dropped out of at least two projects.

Marilyn Manson…Earlier this week, actress Evan Rachel Wood named her ex-fiancé as her years-long abuser, accusing Manson of having "brainwashed and manipulated" her into submission. She said she had been too scared of "retaliation, slander, or blackmail" to come forward. Wood's been outspoken about surviving abuse and has been an advocate for extending California's statute of limitations on domestic violence, and the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights Act. Now, she's calling out Manson and the industries she says have enabled his behavior – one that he's been open about for years. Manson denied the allegations, saying they're "horrible distortions of reality." But several more women have come forward. Manson's been dropped by his record label and Starz.

John Weaver…In a New York Times report published on Sunday, 21 men accused the co-founder of The Lincoln Project (a prominent anti-Trump Republican group) of sexual harassment. Weaver, who worked on the presidential campaigns of the late Sen. John McCain and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, allegedly sent unsolicited sexual messages online. The survivors claim Weaver used his position of power to prey on them and solicit sex in exchange for work opportunities. One of the survivors was allegedly 14 years old when it all started. Weaver has called the messages "inappropriate" and has apologized, saying he thought all interactions were consensual. The Lincoln Project cut ties with Weaver, calling him "a predator, a liar, and an abuser."

theSkimm

Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein, and many others are often synonymous with the #MeToo movement. But as recent allegations show, there are more people out there who've been covering up their abusive behavior, and more survivors who could be suffering in silence.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual violence, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. More here.

And Also...This

What's changing course…

The Justice Dept. Yesterday, it dropped a Trump-era discrimination lawsuit against Yale University. Last year, the DOJ sued the Ivy League school after a two-year investigation found alleged discrimination in its admissions process. The lawsuit said the school violated federal civil rights law by admitting more Black and Latino applicants than white or Asian American applicants with similar academic stats. But "in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments" the DOJ's decided to drop the suit. Yale applauded the move. And an Asian American nonprofit did too, saying the lawsuit had pinned minorities against each other.

Disagreements: Another Asian American nonprofit reportedly said the DOJ's decision would "unequivocally harm Asian-American students." And an anti-affirmative action lawyer said it was "disappointing" but that another lawsuit was in the works.
Not the only Ivy: In November, a federal appeals court also threw out a similar lawsuit against Harvard University, saying it doesn't discriminate in its admissions process.

What's been keeping researchers busy…

The coronavirus. Two studies are telling us more about protection from the virus: in one, a UK study found that nearly 90% of people who test positive for COVID-19 keep their antibodies (and may be immune) for at least six months. Researchers said they have not determined whether antibodies can protect against the new coronavirus variants. In the other, an early study found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has shown it can slow the transmission of the virus by as much as 67%. It's the first vaccine to show it cannot just prevent symptoms, but slow community transmission.

What's honoring our quarantine binges...

The Golden Globes. The nominations are out: "I May Destroy You" didn't get love. But "Emily in Paris" did. Old Hollywood's making a comeback with "Mank." And while women got the most nods ever for best director (ahem, three), diversity needs improvement: Black-led films were largely left out of the top prize.

What's coming out in kid size…

"Becoming."

Thing to Know

Pandemic Baby Bust

Aka the opposite of a baby boom – something many thought being stuck at home would lead to (wink, wink). But preliminary reports show those assumptions were way wrong. Five US states (AZ, CA, FL, HI, and OH) have reportedly seen large declines in births nine months after the US declared the coronavirus a national emergency. And a separate survey found that one-third of women wanted to delay pregnancy or have fewer children because of the pandemic.

Psst...here's how fewer babies can hurt the economy and even your wallet.

One sweet nothing to whisper to your Valentine this month: Show me the money. Because getting financially naked (think: baring all about your debt, income, spending habits, and future goals) can help you build a healthy relationship with your partner AND your wallet. We Skimm'd some talking points to get you going.

PS: For more $$$ tips you'll love, sign up to get our Skimm Money newsletter in your inbox every Friday.

For when you have a complicated relationship with cooking...

Give yourself the gift of new pots and pans this Valentine's Day. This brand's non-toxic ceramic cookware set will help you fall in love all over again. It makes cleanup easier and comes with a storage unit. PS: Skimm'rs get 15% off. Take a look.*

For when the cold makes it extra hard to get out of bed in the morning...

Keep a sweater handy. This wellness program can help you stay motivated. And give you the insight you need to build healthier habits that actually stick. Skimm'rs can try it free for 14 days. Up, up.*

For when you wanna be your own valentine this year...

Treat yo'self. This wine subscription company customizes monthly shipments to match your palate. You're basically guaranteed to love the bottles they suggest, but they'll cover the cost if you don't. Order now to get 60% off your first month. We wine it that way.*

For when you wanna celebrate your BFF this Galentine's Day…

Show them some extra love. This list has a candy bento box, bath salts, and a "Schitt's Creek" Jazzagals card. Sistas for life.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimm’rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

We seed you...Katie D (MN). She's part of EmpowerU, a woman-owned startup that's just secured $1 million in seed funding to help address student anxiety and depression. It provides online skill-building lessons supported by daily 1:1 motivational coaching. Learn more.

Ready, set, read...Gina S (IL). She's a first-grade teacher who started, Let's Get Lit! It's an Instagram page that serves as a virtual storytime classroom to get kids excited about reading. Read more here.

(Some) Birthdays...Talia Spiegel (NY), Ayana Gardner (NC), Harold Levine (NY), Amy Noonan (VT), Mackenzie Morrow (NJ), Kathy Lewis (RI), Stephanie Spanier (MN), Jessica Riopel (FL), Jennifer Geha (IL), Anna Roycroft (SC), Sari Libbin (FL), Sadi Fox (OH), Eileen Manela (CT), Anne Elizabeth McIntosh (TN), Timitra Rose (NY),

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Skimm’d by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain