Harassment & Abuse Allegations Envelopes Soap Set During #MeToo Movement

As the nation deals with a movement of women who have had enough of sexual abuse, harassment, and assault in the workplace, soap operas are apparently not immune.

According to Highlight Hollywood, allegations of abuse on The Young and the Restless set could possibly lead to various lawsuits in the near future.

The report claims Executive Producer Mal Young has been accused of “verbal abuse and other abuses,” prompting several women both behind the scenes and in front of the camera to leave the show.

A source tells Highlight Hollywood that “Mal is over his head in this position, and he is not easy to work with as well. And very abusive.”

The story goes on to claim that Steve Kent is also the target of potential lawsuits for similar acts.

The Highlight Hollywood article lends credence to the rumors that Mal Young is on his way out as EP and head writer, especially with the confirmed news that soap producer and scribe Josh Griffith has been re-hired by the show.

However, according to the article, many set siders wonder if that was a smart move, considering rumors of “emotional meltdowns when under pressure.”

Y&R has seen several acting departures in the last few months and more are rumored to come. According to HH’s sources:

“A very respected, honorable woman who has worked for the show for years is on her way out, and she is so emotionally traumatized by her alleged treatment, which included alleged sexual harassment as well as verbal abuse, that she feels she can no longer even work in the daytime industry anymore.”

This isn’t the first time allegations of harassment have been levied against men on the Y&R set. Several years back, there were …continue reading on the next page —>

Continue reading on the next page…

This isn’t the first time allegations of harassment have been levied against men on the Y&R set. Several years back, there were rumors that Michael Muhney (ex-Adam) harassed a young actress, leading to his firing.

Muhney has vehemently denied the allegations and no lawsuit was ever filed. However, Highlight Hollywood’s CBS source claims the following:

“This young lady was talked out of filing a lawsuit and they just covered it up as if it didn’t happen.

“What is very sad is that there are still men on the show doing this and getting away with it, because it is also happening at the top, so why wouldn’t anyone feel it’s perfectly acceptable to mistreat women.”

When news of Harvey Weinstein’s years of alleged sexual assault and harassment broke last fall, several soap actresses tweeted about how common this is in Hollywood — and even on soap sets but nobody named names.

General Hospital recently did its own #MeToo story in which med student Kiki Jerome (Hayley Erin) was harassed by her mentor, Dr. David Bensch (James DePaiva). Kiki took Bensch to court and won her case, prompting Bensch’s firing from GH.

This is a developing story, so be sure to check with Soap Hub for more information, including if and when any lawsuits are filed.