Catch and Kill is Ronan Farrow’s book detailing the NBC News investigation into claims of sexual harassment, abuse, and rape by Harvey Weinstein against numerous female actors and employees. This investigation resulted in Farrow’s New Yorker article that precipitated the Me Too movement. The book also details the obstruction of Farrow’s efforts to pursue the investigation by his own management at NBC, which turned out to have its own culture of sexual abuse and harassment and a system of cover-ups for this behavior.
Less well known is his story of surveillance by the Weinstein organization and of threats against witnesses and potential witnesses. Interestingly enough, he also mentions instances of similar claims against Donald Trump before his election, which, along with those against Weinstein were “caught and killed” by the National Enquirer and its affiliates.
Farrow is very open about his own not very helpful responses to his sister Dylan’s claims against their father, Woody Allen, and about his feelings of being spied upon as well as a certain amount of naiveté when NBC first began obstructing his investigations. This is an interesting account of a landmark moment in recent history.
I don’t often read non-fiction, but this does sound interesting.
It’s very interesting.
Well, that is certainly troubling. But somehow, not surprising, which is also troubling.
I’d like to recommend a book to you. Just finished The Five, by Hallie Rosenfeld. The first Biographical study of the canonical victims of Jack the Ripper. Well done and thought provoking. Just posted my review at You’re History.
I read your review a little while ago, thanks! I’ll check it out!
Sounds like a fascinating read for anyone interested in how powerful people protect themselves. Farrow’s perspective could be especially thought-provoking, given both his skills as a journalist and his family experience.
I did find it fascinating.