"D'Onofrio class turns into law & disorder"
New York Daily News
October 25, 2005
Lowdown
By Lloyd Grove
Quirky actor Vincent D'Onofrio, star of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," is again drawing attention to himself.
At a recent mandatory NBC Universal workplace harassment seminar for the show's cast and crew, the bachelor D'Onofrio, 46, argued with the network lawyer conducting the proceedings until the class finally had to be cut short.
The trouble began when the lawyer presented a hypothetical scenario - involving a costume assistant stumbling on a male actor looking at hard-core porn in his trailer - and asked if that constituted sexual harassment.
"Why is it always a male actor?" D'Onofrio interjected bitterly, according to a Lowdown spy. "This policy is unfair! It's a matter of subjectivity, pitting one person's idea of what's acceptable against another's."
He continued: "When you ask actors to do a provocative show with provocative material, they might need to study up on risqué things - looking at a porn site to understand the character better. The policy discriminates against the artists, who might be doing things in the interest of their art."
As the lawyer grew frazzled, D'Onofrio continued to berate him, even drawing scattered applause at one point. Says the spy: "He got all belligerent. When the guy would try and move on, Vincent kept pressing him with more."
D'Onofrio doesn't have a personal publicist. A rep for the show told Lowdown yesterday: "NBC Universal is committed to providing a workplace free of harassment of any kind, and provides training for all of our series. However, we do not comment on the specifics of any internal meetings."
:o)
:: October 26, 2005 -- "LLOYD Grove is a [bleep]ing idiot. His page is stupid." Those were the stinging words in an e-mail sent Friday by the Daily News columnist's boss, deputy publisher and editorial director Martin Dunn, -
NY Post"
posted by thereel @ 6:59 AM
24 Comments:
OK, I may draw fire for this, but the man does have a point. The man being Vincent, of course. I mean, typically in the sexual harrassment courses I have taken in my profession, the scenarios presented nine times out of ten involve a male perpetrator. It's stereotypical. Women can just as easily be the perp. as a man can (and I can say this without bias being female). In fact, I have been in rooms with other women with whom I work whose speech and action could burn your ears and eyes off. I don't blame him for being a bit frustrated with it. Not in the slightest.
I agree too ..
I also wonder why watching porn is such a big issue, why is it even considered sexual harrassment???
As long as you don't try to re-enact it with a co-worker .. ;-)
btw .. here they had male workers to remove the Pamela Anderson, etc. posters, but the Brad Pitt's, Tom Cruises, Keanu Reeves' and Vincent's ;-), etc.. could stay?!
Oh, he ROCKS, doesn't he?
I'm female and I love watching porn. It's also true what he says about research on porn sites and how the law always blows (excuse the pun) things out of proportion. Besides, what an actor, or anyone else does in their trailer, is their business.
I think Goren is rubbing off on Vincent in a big way and I absolutely DIG IT!!!
I agree with Vincent. Why is it alway's men, women can be just as destructive in the workplace. Maybe I am speaking for Vincent, but I think he is also saying that creativity is being threatened . Our country has taken a hard turn to the right, and as an actor, who believes in free expression that must be troubling for him.
Women are just as bad. I agree with Vincent on this. Times are changing. Women are more aggressive. What you do is your business.
One more thought. What's with the line, "the bachelor D'onofrio" Do they think he would have a different opinion if he were married. I don't know, there seems to be something backhanded about that comment.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander
This whole issue is subjective and Vincent was sooooo right to get mad - that hypothetical scenario should have been presented both ways and it's irrelevant whether it was in the name of art or someone's predeliction for porn
Axe - great comment - you're cool
Go Vincent the times are changing women also can harrass.
The reporter is giving his spin by using the phrase "the bachelor d'onofrio". You gotta love the press.
GO VINCENT HE just ROCKS!!!
I just checked this out on New York Daily News online, and Vincent is the lead story in "Daily Dish". And, considering all the other articles in Daily Dish, his story seems normal.
Whew! Glad to know I wasn't the ONLY one with my opinion (or variations of same, whatever). I also caught the "bachelor" reference and went "What the --?" Married men can be just as horny and single ones. Trust me, if the past six years with my husband have taught me nothing else . . .
"Disclosure" anyone?
I'm surprized they didn't say "divorcee D'Onofrio" which would've just fueled the fire.
What I want to know is how a company forum got into the press? I understand security is tight on the set... so who screwed up?
It is unfortunate that the press who supports "free" speech has to take a shot at a guy who is promoting the same high ideal.
Nice moves on the lawyer, Vincent. Watch out Counselor Carter!
Yeah, like you never get herrassed by married men??
Or married women, right?
You gotta love our Vincent - he takes no shit from anyone!
the harrassment issue is definitely one-sided most of the time. A former co-worker had a large (sofa sized) picture of a bunch of men in speedos running away from the camera and into the surf. Yet she walked by a man's office and demanded he remove his swimsuit calendar. ???
she claimed to be evening the score apparently.
we don't need more divisive carp in our work places and policies that originally intended to cure divisiveness have done just the opposite because the underlying problems (racism, sexism, etc) still exist.
However, if this really happened and Vincent was as adamant as claimed by "lowdown" - there is a point at which you have to say you've made your point and move on. i'm seeing too many knock-down-drag-outs on-line these days that clog up discussions because no one wants to step back and accept that they spoke, were heard, and that's the best they'll get.
at any rate - i'm highly skeptical about the "truth" of this event. being that we have only one observer and we know that we all are flawed and biased in observing events.
now see... this is where i say - okay, i've said my part and am moving on. :)
you tell em vincent
GO, VINCENT!! He probably didn't want to move on because he couldn't get a straight answer from the lawyer. More politically correct crap and focused on men when women can be just as guilty.
To clarify: I do not believe that anyone should be allowed to harass another, sexually or otherwise.. However, other than training managers, etc. in how to handle charges of sexual harassment, I resent cattle call meetings that require folks who have not been cited for s.h. to sit through lectures. Call in the cited individuals and deal with them as appropriate.
Am I off base?
not offbase IS.... on the money. Offenders should be dealt with on an individual basis and the complainers better have their facts straight!
I agree w/last 2 comments - address the offenders directly, not the general population. Also agree with "why not call V divorced" - seems harrassing to have called him "bachelor" as if that influenced his reaction to content of the class. All these recent media articles, including Modine book, are just taking advantage of Vincent's popularity - mention D'Onofrio and people will read whatever crap you write !!
I agree w/last 2 comments - address the offenders directly, not the general population. Also agree with "why not call V divorced" - seems harrassing to have called him "bachelor" as if that influenced his reaction to content of the class. All these recent media articles, including Modine book, are just taking advantage of Vincent's popularity - mention D'Onofrio and people will read whatever crap you write !!
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