Bryan Cranston: Older white men don't have 'free reign' anymore

9 April 2018

Bryan Cranston thinks that the idea of "older white men" having "free reign" is over in the wake of the Time's Up movement.

Bryan Cranston

The 'Breaking Bad' star is fully supporting the movement, which was set up in the wake of Hollywood's sexual misconduct scandal, and wants to see the industry rebuilt "on a foundation of mutual respect".

Asked why he was supporting the Time's Up movement, he told the Mail Online: "Because time's up. The idea that older white men are controlling the world and having free reign is over. With every person that is brought to the attention, and the aggressors, whether sexually or power oppressors, when they fall, we have the opportunity to rebuild on a foundation of mutual respect. Invisible of gender, of sexual preference, of colour, let's build it up with mutual respect of everyone. Right now it's muddy, it's tough, but there's hope in that."

It comes after Bryan said he believes there is room for forgiveness for Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, in wake of the sexual harassment allegations against them.

He said: "It would take time, it would take a society to forgive them, and it would take tremendous contrition on their part. And a knowingness that they have a deeply rooted psychological and emotional problem and it takes years to mend that."

Although Bryan has had a career spanning over four decades, he is adamant he has never witnessed any inappropriate sexual behaviour but thinks the claims that have engulfed Hollywood are "beyond disgusting".

He shared: "There's a disorder among all those people who use their power, their place or their status in any industry to overpower someone and force someone to do something that they don't want to do. It's beyond disgusting. It's almost animalistic. It's a form of bullying. It's a form of control. It's almost always done to young vulnerable men and women who are starting their career.

"That sort of experience goes unchecked until something like this happens. The pillars of what was are falling. Everything is being exposed. Women and men should not have to tolerate misbehaviour just because of their youth and inexperience. The silver lining is we're not accepting behaviour like that just because it's the way it's always been."