Ain't It Cool News-Founder Harry Knowles Accused of Sexual Assault
Austin, Texas has long been regarded as one of the most vibrant indie film communities in the country. Home to numerous international film festivals, renowned filmmakers and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a regional movie theater chain known for setting a new standard in moviegoing, it’s easy to see why so many Austinites take pride in their city's renowned cinema culture.
Yet, despite its seemingly friendly and welcoming vibes, Austin has been rocked by a wave of controversies over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct involving several key figures within the community in the past year. At the center of the latest such scandal is Harry Knowles, co-founder of Fantastic Fest film festival and the founder of the film review and news site Ain’t It Cool News, according to a report by IndieWire published over the weekend.
"Harry Knowles groped me, opportunistically, on more than one occasion," said Jasmine Baker, a former Alamo Drafthouse employee who became acquainted with Knowles while working at the theater between 1999 and 2000. "I cannot just stay silent. I am not interested in remaining silent."
According to Baker, Knowles allegedly rubbed up against her buttocks and legs on more than one occasion; when Baker confronted him about his conduct, "he just giggled about it," she told IndieWire. On at least one another occasion, Knowles put his hand under her shirt.
Knowles has since "categorically" denied the allegations.
What is more, Baker says this isn’t the first time she tried to speak out about Knowles' behavior. While working at the Alamo Drafthouse, she brought up the issue with Alamo Drafthouse owners, Tim and Karrie League. In her account, Baker says they were horrified to hear about the incident, but their ultimate advice was simply to “avoid” him.
“And I did that. In light of all that has happened for them publicly, today they might make a different choice about how to handle someone they did business with. But at that time, they were trying to bring inclusiveness to everyone and also didn’t want to confront a business partner.”
The news has since sent shockwaves through the online film community, as well as Austin's thriving movie scene; Banners promoting Knowles' Ain’t It Cool News have been scrubbed from the Fantastic Fest website, while the Austin Film Critics Association voted to revoke Knowles' membership.
The controversy comes on the heels of recent news that Tim League, the CEO of Alamo Drafthouse, has re-hired Devin Faraci, the former editor of its film review site Birth.Movies.Death who stepped down last year over a different sexual assault allegations. League, who bowed out of this year’s Fantastic Fest in the wake of Faraci's scandal, released a statement on Monday, revealing that the company has severed all ties with Knowles:
"I’ve been reflecting on twenty years of decisions as a business owner. In the early days, Karrie and I conferred on all tough decisions, and we always tried to do the right thing. To this day, the core value of the company is just that, the simple principle to always “do the right thing.” Recent perspective has made it clear that we didn’t always do the right thing, despite what we thought were good intentions. To the women we have let down, Karrie and I both sincerely apologize
Moving forward, we have severed all ties with Harry Knowles and he is no longer affiliated with the company in any capacity. We are striving to better respond to allegations of sexual assault and harassment, and will take actions so those who work at the theater or attend as a guest are not made to feel unsafe."
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Nedhitis
It boggles my mind how the one country that symbolizes freedom the most still uses the "guilty until proven innocent" procedure, when more restricting countries like UK do it the other way.
-Kanrabat-
So easy for a woman to destroy a man nowadays.
Well, keep going bitches. The real victims of sexual abuse are tanking you.
I'm not saying he didn't do it, but so many woman use accusations as a weapon that it just become pathetic. Got sexually assaulted/abuse? Go to the cops FIRST and keep everything under wraps. Then let the cops do their job. If you tell the truth, the abuser WILL be arrested and charged. Going public first will only go against you because now, people are getting more and more red-pilled against false accusers.
RemChi
Going to the press before you go to the police makes the investigation even harder.
Since 1, if the accused is actually guilty, it gives them time to hide evidence or forge an alibi…
And 2, it makes it harder for evidence to be found all together because vigilantes exist.
-Kanrabat-
Also, it's a red flag right off the bat, diminishing the accuser credibility tenfold. But the guy's reputation is still ruined forever. Consequences: Guys go MGTOW (like me) women have a harder time getting into a relationship, and genuine victims are even afraid to make a move.
Some laws need to be passed to punish those who make grave accusations like this in public before going to the cops, or even any sentences is ruled. This will stop weaponised rape accusations completely.
Kayate
Is he wearing a mumu?
HumbleWaterFilterMerchant
See I don't have this problem in my studio, it's because for whatever reason Women don't want to work for me…
WezliGiantsbane333
Clearly some kind of Globalist conspiracy.
Azelstan
He looks like a younger Fat Bastard
Mr. Candles
….man, I almost miss Hrom and the potential comment he'd make here, and the follow-up piling on him
Tchefuncte Bonaparte
"She's probably a fat feminist cow that's calling rape to ruin his life just because he looked at her funny"
Does that sound about right.
Mr. Candles
Actually, I think he would've gone with digging up some unrelated, irrelevant and generally minor thing to paint him as one of those leftists and say that once again they're hypocritical rapists that preach in favor of women in order to get close and fondle them, as they all are.
This is the guy that literally said all liberals are rapists, going by the notes here
WezliGiantsbane333
Did he finally get axed or did he just move on?
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Aramaki_1917
Geez, If I were a woman toched by that guy, I'd want justice even after years.
Toheck
You wouldn't otherwise…?
doonglerules
Another accusation based on a supposed incident that happened nearly 2 decades ago.
Jeez.
Well hopefully this is a serious matter and not just fingers being pointed.
Myndnix
"We are striving to better respond to allegations"
I don't like how this is worded. It makes it sound as if allegations are paramount, when what should be important is the truth.
I'm not saying Knowles did or did not do this, though.
Phhase
^This person's head is screwed on properly.