I’m Scared the Cole Sprouse Allegations Could Kill the #MeToo Movement
The #MeToo movement was designed to hold predatory men accountable. But it's at risk of being overrun by obsessive fans with unjustified vendettas against celebrities who won't return their affections. | Source: Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images / AFP
- Cole Sprouse was accused of sexual assault.
- The “Riverdale” star immediately denied the claims.
- Subsequent revelations about the accuser spell trouble for the #MeToo movement.
Cole Sprouse was almost #MeToo-ed.
The “Riverdale” star was accused of sexual assault by a “burner” Twitter account.
But his immediate renunciation of the claims — and subsequent revelations about his alleged accuser — spell trouble for the #MeToo movement.
Cole Sprouse Looks Like a Victim of False Accusations
“Riverdale” is a problematic mess. There’s no question about that.
But it’s completely unfair to accuse Cole Sprouse of something he didn’t do.
A woman with a “burner” Twitter account, who solely went by the name of “Veronica,” claimed Sprouse assaulted her at a party back in 2013 . Her claims came just two days after similar accusations ensnared actor Ansel Elgort. And her claims came just one day after Justin Bieber was accused of the same thing.
Sprouse categorically denied the accusations. And he subsequently revealed that this was one of many accusations made against himself and his “Riverdale” co-stars.
And these accusations appear to have all come from the same IP address , and possibly from the same accuser.
This definitely means trouble for both the accuser and the #MeToo movement.
The #MeToo Movement Has Done Plenty of Good
There’s no denying that the #MeToo movement has been a good thing. Thanks to their efforts, Harvey Weinstein now rots in jail. And Jeffrey Epstein rots in a much hotter place.
But Cole Sprouse is neither of these men. And he doesn’t deserve to be falsely accused of sexual assault.
And the fact that this accusation seems like the antics of an obsessive “Riverdale” fan is even more disturbing. As Lili Reinhart — Cole Sprouse’s co-star and sometime girlfriend — correctly said, false accusations threaten to do irreparable harm to “the movement.”
The #MeToo movement aims to hold predatory men accountable. But it’s at risk of being overrun by obsessive fans with unjustified vendettas against celebrities who won’t return their affections.
And as the claims against Cole Sprouse portend, that may be the fatal blow to the movement.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
