Charlize Theron delves into the reasons behind her decision not to disclose the identity of a director she accused of sexually harassing her during a recent appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. On this Wednesday's episode, the "Old Guard 2" star was prompted to revisit her harrowing anecdote about being summoned to a director's residence late at night for what was purportedly her maiden audition. Theron initially recounted this experience in a 2019 interview with The Howard Stern Show.
She narrated how the director, clad in pajamas, greeted her and attempted conversation during what she anticipated to be a formal audition. The situation took a disturbing turn when he placed his hand on her knee, prompting her immediate departure. "The tiny voice within me screamed, ‘This is wrong,’" she recounted. "Yet, another part of me hesitated, pondering, ‘Perhaps this is just how it’s done.’"
After publicly sharing her ordeal, Theron revealed that the director, who had overheard her story, seemed visibly rattled. "This individual grew anxious for a spell," she shared. "I've refrained from naming him not out of any desire to shield him but because I don't want the narrative to revolve around him. Nevertheless, he did exhibit signs of nervousness," she added.
When host Alex Cooper inquired about the source of the director's anxiety, Theron elaborated, "He recognized the tale as his own and penned a bogus letter attempting to justify his actions, insisting I had misunderstood – a classic maneuver, isn't it?" She further suggested that the director "began to panic."
"He was anticipating my every move," she said, clarifying her stance on confidentiality. "I refuse to utter your name because you are fully aware of your despicable deeds. If anyone were to inquire, I'd be brutally honest. He knows this. And I find a certain satisfaction in knowing he sits uncomfortably, never certain when the reckoning might come. I prefer it this way."
During their conversation, which echoed Cooper's own experiences of sexual harassment by her soccer coach Nancy Feldman at Boston University, as detailed in her Hulu documentary "Call Her Alex," both women reflected on the guilt and shame often felt by victims. Theron recounted her internal struggle, "I was livid with myself, questioning how I could have let this happen. I demanded, ‘Who are you to allow this?’ These emotions still haunt me."
She continued, "We're all too familiar with the insensitive advice to ‘speak up next time’ or ‘don’t be a coward.’ Such remarks only exacerbate the pain, suggesting disbelief rather than empathy. They make us feel like no matter the external criticism, nothing hurts more than our self-recrimination."
Theron emphasized that external opinions could never inflict the damage she inflicted upon herself that day. She commended Cooper for her bravery in sharing her story, stating, "We must share these tales to realize we're not isolated in our suffering."
