TIME Magazine Names The Silence Breakers As Person Of The Year
It's official! TIME Magazine named The Silence Breakers as Person of the Year. The group represents individuals who spoke out against sexual harassment.
The Silence Breakers is the offset of the MeToo Movement, a concept that Tarana Burke started in 2006 that blossomed into a social media rallying cry against sexual harassment in the workplace.
Ashely Judd Breaks Her Silence
Actress Ashley Judd is one of the five women that TIME Magazine assembled for the Person of the Year cover. She broke her silence and made waves when she revealed her past with disgraced movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein.
Judd came forward in a revealing interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer that she had her nightmarish encounter with Weinstein 20 years ago. Judd told Sawyer that she had no warning regarding Weinstein's alleged allegations and had to visit his hotel room for a "business appointment."
Judd's bravery inspired others such as actress Rose McGowan to come forward with their own stories of abuse. McGowan slammed her co-stars for not speaking up against Weinstein and posted a picture of her younger self with the caption, "This is the girl that was hurt by a monster. This is who you are shaming with your silence." McGowan settled with Weinstein in 1997 after she accused him of rape. Weinstein currently faces over 80 charges of sexual misconduct.
The TIME Magazine Short List
Time Magazine named six other influential people as part of their Person of the Year shortlist. President Donald Trump came in second place while Chinese President Xi Jinping came in third. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller rounded out the magazine's Top 4. Mueller is currently investigating if the Russian government interfered in the 2016 Presidential Election and if anyone tied to the Trump Administration helped them.
North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is the next individual mentioned on the short list. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the only athlete to be recognized this year. While the football player was not employed on the field this year, his absence spoke volumes as other athletes from different sports teams came together to kneel during "The Star Spangled Banner."
Film director Patty Jenkins rounded out the list. The Wonder Woman director along with the film's star, Gal Gadot, broke box office records this summer as DC Comics' Amazon Warrior became the first female superhero in a decade to headline a silver screen adventure.
