More accusations of sexual abuse by persons in power  (part 3)                                              

Before I publish the names of t alleged sexual abusers, I want to point out to my readers that unless the abusers have actually admitted to sexually abusing other persons, they should be presumed to be innocent of the accusations. However, that old adage comes to mind—where there is smoke, there is fire. Further, in my opinion, sexual abuse also includes trying to get another person to participate in some form of a sexual act. I am also cognizant of the fact that some women claim that they were raped or otherwise sexually abused when in fact, that didn’t happen. They do it to make a name for themselves. There are also women who were raped or sexually abused but are too embarrassed to make that information public.  And now, the third story of one of the accused sexual abusers.

Mark Schwahn 

  In addition to being the creator of One Tree Hill, this man also served as a screenwriter, director and producer of the series which revolved around the lives of young men and women in North Carolina.

This man has been accused of sexual harassment by numerous cast members and members of the crew who have claimed to have been “manipulated psychologically and emotionally” by him, to the point where some had even needed to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress.

It has been alleged that 51-year-old Mark Schwahn engaged in the inappropriate behavior while on the set of the teen drama series, which aired on the WB from 2003 to 2006 and then the CW from 2006 to 2012.

As many as 18 women who worked on One Tree Hill includes stars. Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz who came forward accusing Schwahn of sexual misconduct.

They claimed in a letter, which was sent to Variety, that some of the things that the 51-year-old did was so bad, people were forced to seek treatment for PTSD, as a result.      

Variety posted the letter that Schwahn’s accusers sent them in full on its website. It was signed by Danneel Harris, Michaela McManus, Kate Voegele, Daphne Zuniga, India DeBeaufort, Bevin Prince, Jana Kramer, Shantel Van Santen, Allison Munn and members of the crew, in addition to Wauchope, Specter, Bush, Burton, and Joy Lenz.

The letter said in part, “Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally. More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress. Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be. Many of us were spoken to in ways that ran the spectrum from deeply upsetting, to traumatizing, to downright illegal. And a few of us were put in positions where we felt physically unsafe. More than one woman on our show had her career trajectory threatened.”   unquote  

On Twitter, Wauchope (one of the accusers) described how she first learned about Schwahn’s sexually deviant ways upon arriving in the One Tree Hill writer’s room.           

She said in Twitter, “When I was 29, my writing partner Rachel Specter and I were hired as staff writers.  To say we were excited was an understatement. To say we left that job demoralized and confused is also an understatement. One of the 1st things we were told was that the show runner hired female writers on the basis of their looks. “That’s why you’re here—he wants to fuck you.” unquote

On Twitter, Wauchope (one of the accusers) described how she first learned about Schwahn’s sexually deviant ways upon arriving in the One Tree Hill writer’s room.           

Wauchope continued, “Rachel had been actress previous to writing and was told that he used to talk about her in the room before we were hired. So that’s a safe room to enter as staff writers. Imagine what that does to ones psyche. Imagine feeling for the rest of your career that you’re possibly an imposter and that maybe just maybe you’re only here because you’re a body, not a mind. It creeps into your thoughts and keeps you up at night and makes you wonder.” unquote

According to Wauchope, men on staff were shown naked photos of on an actress he was having an affair with. Naked photos she didn’t know were being passed around. Naked photos they didn’t want to see. This was such a violation, both to the naked actress and to the men forced to look and participate.

According to cast and crew, Schwahn was ordered to attend sexual harassment training by the studio lawyers however he never actually attended any of the sessions.

Wauchope said, ““I’m furious and sad and everything else for the women who have sat on that couch next to that man. I  don’t feel safe to be able to do anything real about this and that it seems to be happening all over this town.”

Wauchope also said, “I’m furious and sad and everything else for the women who have sat on that couch next to that man. I  don’t feel safe to be able to do anything real about this and that it seems to be happening all over this town.”

The former writer, who now works on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, recalled how Schwahn would regularly flaunt naked pictures of a woman he was sleeping with while on the set.

Quite frankly, I am convinced that any women who are forced (if they are) to have sex with this ugly looking man, would probably puke. In my opinion, his face is not an inducement for being sexually aroused.

According to cast and crew, Schwahn was ordered to attend sexual harassment training by the studio lawyers however he never actually attended any of the sessions.

Universal Cable Productions, Lionsgate Television and E! said in response to the Schwahn allegations. “We are monitoring the information carefully.”

Schwahn is just the latest in a long list of Hollywood and political heavyweights who have been hit with sexual harassment allegations in recent weeks.

 Big name filmmakers such as Harvey Weinstein and Brett Ratner  have been publicly named by their alleged victims, along with a number of movie stars including Kevin Spacey and Richard Dreyfuss. TV showrunners and even a DC Comics editor have also been accused of sexual misbehavior. Further political figures have also been accused of sexual abuse of girls of all ages.