Alyssa Milano: 'I did not have my phone confiscated' at Ford/Kavanaugh hearing

Erin Jensen USA TODAY

Published 11:35 AM EDT Sep 28, 2018

Actress Alyssa Milano, a prominent #MeToo activist, attended Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to support accuser Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as she testified at the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

But, it was Milano's choice of attire that some on social media focused on.  

Critics slammed the "Charmed" alum for wearing a black, pinstriped dress that some deemed "disrespectful" and "revealing." Milano was present as a guest of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). 

User @kimsposies said it was hard to take the actress "seriously the way she is dressed for this hearing," adding "how disrespectful with that cleavage hanging out."

Another critic, @milla7blanca, told Milano to use better judgement: "This isn’t Hollywood and sex does not sell. Yet another reason actors should stick to reading lines."

Twitter user @XanderMonk222 called Milano's attire "inappropriate."

The critic continued: "The revealing... outfit you wore to the Kavanaugh hearing is in itself revealing to your own motives for being in attendance."

However, some jumped to Milano's defense. One social media user, @robbrowatzke, said those commenting on her outfit are "part of the problem," adding "women can wear whatever they want and your reaction is not their problem." 

Milano's outfit was not the only thing catching attention. 

The activist live tweeted from inside the proceeding, including this post letting her three million-plus followers know that she stands with Kavanaugh's accuser. "I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford," Milano shared, adding a picture from inside the packed room. She also shared several videos.

More: A 'terrified' Christine Blasey Ford tells her story at Kavanaugh hearing

More: Handwritten note on Kavanaugh, Ford hearing room table: 'Good luck, Dr. Ford'

At one point, a security guard could be seen warning Milano about using her phone during the hearing, which prohibits videotaping and photography. Ultimately her device was confiscated after multiple offenses, according to Newsweek. 

Milano has been openly critical of the Supreme Court nominee and tweeted Wednesday that she was in the nation's capital "because I don’t believe any man’s misogyny should take precedent (sic) over a survivor’s humanity."

Before the hearing began, Milano posed with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). Milano sat next to Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List. Explaining he presence, Milano said she "felt like she needed to be here" in support of Ford.

"I am here today not because I want to be," Ford, who originally detailed her assault allegations in a letter to Feinstein, told the committee, "I am terrified."

Ford said she nonetheless appeared because it's her civic duty to tell the Senate what happened to her at a house party in 1982 and how it has affected her life. And they needed to hear it from her directly.

Brett Kavanaugh hearing:  Christine Ford details alleged attack, responds to questions

"Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes," an emotional Ford said.

She told senators she was pinned to a bed as Kavanaugh tried to stop her from screaming by covering her mouth with his hand, making it hard for her to breath. 

Ford believed he was going to rape her and thought he might accidentally kill her.

At the time, she was 15 – the same age as one of her two sons.

Kavanaugh, who has categorically denied the allegations, was scheduled to testify after Ford. He planned to tell senators that he's not questioning whether Ford "may have been sexually assaulted by some person in some place at some time."

"But I have never done that to her or to anyone," he stated in prepared remarks provided to the committee in advance.

In the days leading up to Thursday's hearing, more allegations have surfaced, accusing Kavanaugh of varying degrees of improper behavior.

In a New Yorker story published Sunday, college classmate Debra Ramirez said that he shoved his genitals in her face at a party when he was a freshman at Yale.  

On Wednesday, the eve of the hearing, Julie Swetnick alleged that Kavanaugh was in the room when she was gang-raped at a high school party. She made the accusation in a sworn statement, which would open her up to perjury charges. In addition, because she holds a security clearance, lying would have career-damaging consequences.

On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee released a letter referred by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in which Kavanaugh is accused of shoving a woman up against a wall "very sexually and aggressively" after leaving a Washington bar. The incident happened in 1998 when Kavanaugh was in his 30s and working for independent counsel Ken Starr, who was investigating President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

More: Brett Kavanaugh's sexual assault hearing opens, represents turning point for Supreme Court and #MeToo movement

More: How to watch and what to expect in today's hearing with Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Ford

Contributing: Maureen Groppe, Eliza Collins and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Read More News https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/09/27/alyssa-milano-brett-kavanaugh-sexual-assault-accuser-christine-blasey-ford/1441371002/

Bagikan Berita Ini