Last month, actor Terry Crews said that he was sexually assaulted by an extremely powerful Hollywood agent. At the time, he refused to reveal his alleged assaulter's name. A series of tweets from October 10th read: "This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates. Jumping back I said What are you doing?! My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk." Today, on Good Morning America, Crews finally outed his abuser publicly: Crews explained: "Back in February 2016, I was assaulted by Adam Venit, who is head of the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor, one of the biggest agencies in the world, period. He’s connected to probably everyone I know in the business ... I did not know this man. I have never had a conversation with him, ever." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BbaNPSVnDD3/?hl=en]] It can't be understated how powerful Venit really was. William Morris Endeavor is such a massive agency, that to cross one of its top executives could mean a total halt to your career. Taking matters into his own hands, however, Crews filed a police report just a week ago, on November 8th. Since the filing, Venit has been fired from WME. Crews continued to describe the horrible situation when he was allegedly groped: "I’m looking like, 'Is this a joke?' ... It was actually so bizarre. He comes over to me. I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals. I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey.’ And he’s still licking his tongue out and all this stuff and I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? What are you doing?’ and then he comes back again. He just won’t stop...I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified. It’s so bizarre. I wake up every morning wondering, ‘Did this really happen?'" [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BbR0MFeHqwt/?hl=en]] If true, Venit is absolutely a creep. Sticking his tongue out and groping Terry Crews? My God, it's like Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings. Crews said that he did push Venit away from him at the party, and that Venit later called to "apologize". Still, Crews said he never explained why he did it. "When a person of power breaks that boundary and violates that boundary, you’re a prisoner of war. Immediately, you’re in a camp because you’re trying to figure out when is the right time to come out. This the thing that a lot of people just don’t understand and they end up blaming the victim. I have totally said I will not be shamed. I will not be shamed. I did nothing wrong. Nothing." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BamIyVLn8Ja/?hl=en]] Crews tweeted #imfree after appearing on Good Morning America. He has filed a police report, so we will see what happens next. Crews said with joy: "I said, ‘Man, what kind of man would I be to tell my kids, 'If someone touches you where you don’t want to be touched, tell someone, tell someone,' and then I don’t do it...Let me tell you something, it freed me. I knew instantly that I had to tell my story so that other people could be free."

The number of sexual harassment and assault allegations that have come to light of late have been alarming. Certainly news of Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual misconduct continues to rock the entertainment industry, and has encouraged other victims to come forward with their own experiences of sexual abuse. As such, Weinstein is not the only household name to have such claims leveled against him; in recent weeks, figures such as Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and Steven Seagal have also been slammed with similar allegations. But while the majority of the victims who have come forward are women, we cannot discount the experiences of men who have faced sexual trauma. Indeed, actor and former NFL star Terry Crews recently claimed that he was assaulted by a “high-level Hollywood executive” - later named as WME agent Adam Venit - during a pool party back in February 2016. And now, Crews has taken to Twitter to display how complicit the industry is in covering up such allegations. The 49-year-old tweeted a screenshot of an email, sent to him by the music producer Russell Simmons asking him to give his attacker "a pass". The email that Crews received from the billionaire producer read: "Did he ever apologise Give the agent a pass ask that he be reinstated "With great love, all things are possible" The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor took to Twitter to post his response, which was at once simple yet powerful, "NO ONE GETS A PASS". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/932276034388467712]] Crews was encouraged to share his story after news of Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual harassment and abuse broke. In a Twitter post, he wrote: "This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME." In the following series of tweets, the former linebacker narrated how, at an industry function in 2016, a male executive groped his genitals in front of his wife and "grinned like a jerk". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838446697226240]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838500061253632]] He explained that while he was tempted to retaliate, he was concerned about how the incident would be covered in the press, "I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn’t want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence," he said. "'240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho’ would be the headline the next day." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838823874105344]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838656500506625]] Crews said that Adam Venit later called to apologise, but failed to give any reasoning for his actions. As such, the actor chose to keep quiet, for fear of being ostracised, as he explained, "[It’s] par [for] the course when the predator has power [and] influence". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838823874105344]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838900944519168]] He then explained that the traumatising experience has helped him to "understand and empathise with those who have remained silent". He added that he hoped that by making his experience public, he would "deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless".

Actor Terry Crews made headlines in November last year when he publicly accused a powerful Hollywood agent of sexually assaulting him in the past. Using his platform as a means to show the world that men can be victims of sexual misconduct too, regardless of how physically strong they are, he joined the Me Too movement as it built up steam.

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Speaking on Good Morning America about the incident involving Adam Venit, the head of the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor, Crews said:

"I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals. I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey.’ And he’s still licking his tongue out and all this stuff and I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? What are you doing?’ and then he comes back again.

"He just won’t stop ... I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified. It’s so bizarre. I wake up every morning wondering, ‘Did this really happen?'"

Now, this story has emerged once again as Crews has been speaking about the larger issue of sexual assault and how the legal system treats the victims of abuse. On Monday, he was called in to testify as part of a hearing about the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights.

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The actor is perhaps best known by his role on the TV comedy Brooklyn Nine Nine, but others will know him from his appearances in The Expendables action franchise. However, we likely won't be seeing Crews in the latter anymore, as it appears he has been dropped from the movie. According to the actor's testimony, producer Avi Lerner asked him to drop his civil lawsuit so that they could continue to feature him in The Expendables 4.

"Abusers protect abusers — and this is one thing I had to decide, whether I was going to draw the line on," Crews told the committee. "Am I going to be a part of this or am I gonna take a stand, and there are projects I had to turn down."

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While there are many out there who have unfortunately reacted negatively to his words, there have been many who have praised his actions. His courage in coming forward to speak about something that many people can't face in the public eye, opening himself up to ridicule from others, all to help prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future, is admirable.

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Not all the responses have been positive, however, with some people misinterpreting the facts or taking the opportunity to mock or question Crews - including 50 Cent, whose remarks didn't go down well at all.

Today, in a simple but powerful tweet, Crews has answered all the obnoxious questions that have been sent his way recently, commenting on how many of his answers seem to fall on deaf ears:

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Although there may be plenty out there who are less understanding, or are being unfairly critical of the actor for his recent comments, there are also plenty out there who are grateful for his words.

Actor Terry Crews came forward in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein rape revelations to admit that he too has seen the dark underbelly of Hollywood. It seems obvious at this point that sexual assault is a systemic issue among politicians, entertainers, and the rich and powerful. Crews, in a string of tweets, described his experiences. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917838500061253632]] Here is the full text of his tweets, transcribed into paragraphs: "This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates.  "Jumping back I said What are you doing?! My wife saw everything n we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk. I was going to kick his ass right then— but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear. "240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho” would be the headline the next day. Only I probably wouldn’t have been able to read it because I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL. So we left. That night and the next day I talked to everyone I knew that worked with him about what happened." "He called me the next day with an apology but never really explained why he did what he did. I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn’t want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence. I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go. "Who’s going 2 believe you? ( few) What r the repercussions?(many) Do u want 2 work again? (Yes) R you prepared 2b ostracized?(No) I love what I do. But it’s a shame and the height of disappointment when someone tries to takes advantage of that.  "He knows who he is. But sumtimes Uhav2 wait & compare notes w/ others who’ve been victimized in order 2gain a position of strength. I understand and empathize with those who have remained silent. But Harvey Weinstein is not the only perpetrator.  "Hollywood is not the only business we’re this happens, and to the casualties of this behavior— you are not alone. Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/terrycrews/status/917839061196226560]] It's a powerful recounting of a broken culture of abuse, and proof of the fact that nobody feels comfortable coming forward about a sexual assault that took place with someone in their industry, especially someone with real power. The costs of revealing that you were sexually assaulted include career suicide and worse - your entire life takes a new turn, and you could be shamed into silence or blacklisted. Powerful men find it too easy to get away with crimes of all natures, and sexual abuse especially is a tool of the weak of soul to create humiliation and harassment and benefit themselves from spreading those terrible feelings. If Terry Crews was a casual victim, we can all be victims. What do you think? Is it shocking that a man was a victim of this assault, or is that another place where our culture is unfair and doesn't see the full picture? Is there a stigma against being assaulted for both men and women?

In the wake of the Weinstein Effect, #MeToo and Time's Up movements, the entertainment industry is making moves to stamp out those who abuse positions of power and commit acts of sexual misconduct. While most of the victims to have come forward are women, there have been some men - notably, actor Terry Crews.

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Last November, Crews revealed that he had been a victim of assault. The actor alleged that Adam Venit, the head of the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor, a powerful agency, groped him at a Hollywood function. Speaking on Good Morning America, he said:

"I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals. I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey.’ And he’s still licking his tongue out and all this stuff and I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? What are you doing?’ and then he comes back again.

"He just won’t stop ... I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified. It’s so bizarre. I wake up every morning wondering, ‘Did this really happen?'

On Monday, Crews was called to testify at a hearing about the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, where he gave testimony on what happened to him and what it means as part of a larger conversation about sexual assault. He even revealed that he was asked by a producer on The Expendables 4 to drop his lawsuit, and was subsequently dropped from the movie after he declined.

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"In 2016 while at a party with my wife," Crews told the committee. "I was sexually assaulted by a successful Hollywood agent."

"The assault lasted only minutes, but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand, was that he held the power. That he was in control. This is how toxic masculinity permeates culture."

His words have been incredibly moving, from his opening statement about using his platform to fight for rights and protections for sexual assault survivors, to his explanation for why he didn't react with anger and violence at the time of the incident.

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However, while many have come out in support of the actor's brave and thoughtful words on the subject, there have been others who haven't been quite so mature about the issue.

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Just before he was due to stand before the committee, 50 Cent posted some photos of Crews to his Instagram account, along with the text, "I got raped. My wife just watched," followed by another photo of the actor, captioned "Gym time".

The rapper posted the poorly-thought-out meme along with a caption that read, "Terry: l froze in fear, they would have had to take me to jail. get the strap".

This post was deleted, while another upload showed a clip of Will Smith slapping away a reporter who tried to kiss him. The post read: "See I think it's a natural instinct to respond this way. LOL get the strap" - leading many to believe this post was also related to the rapper's thoughts on the issue.

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Aside from missing the details of Crews story, including the context of where the incident happened, 50 Cent's reaction was clearly an insensitive one. In light of this, TMZ asked Crews if he had a response to this reaction.

"I love 50 Cent, I listen to his music when I'm working out," Crews responded, adding: "I prove that size doesn't matter when it comes to sexual assault."

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Crews has already addressed why exactly he didn't fight back, and the answer was satisfactory to Senator Dianne Feinstein. In a tweet, the committee member said that his answer was "a powerful reminder of how victims are too often forced into silence to avoid damaging their careers or reputations."

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The Los Angeles District Attorney has stated that a felony filing has been declined, on the basis that "the suspect did not make contact with the victim's skin when he grabbed the victim's genitals and there is no restraint involved," in addition to the fact it is beyond the statute of limitations.

Regardless, the actor's courage in coming forward has helped the call for additional civil rights in these cases, and brought this very serious issue to the attention of many.