The entertainment world has been filled with gross tales of Harvey Weinstein. If you missed it, here is a quick rundown: Weinstein, the producer of films such as "Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting" and "Shakespeare in Love" among others, was considered an ogre by many in the business. He would yell, haggle and insult. It now seems that he did much more. Actresses, producers and assistants who worked for him recall being sexually abused by him. From superstars such as Ashley Judd to the girls who brought him coffee — by the way, each is just as valuable and vulnerable as the other — tales are surfacing about his having him insist they touch him inappropriately, take a shower with him or opening a hotel room to find him in his birthday suit. Take a look at a photo of the superstar producer — not pretty sight.

While many male celebrities say they did not know what was going on, this week, three brave souls — including Quentin Tarantino, whose career was almost made by Weinstein — admits he knew something was going on but did not speak out, and now feels guilty. One writer reported his disgust at himself and others knew and kept quiet. They all feared for their careers.

The "casting couch" is not just confined to big shot producers or men. I've heard rumors of a prominent female soap opera casting director who would cast men if they would sleep with her. Another such tale was of a soap producer who insisted his ingenue sleep with him. She was 17 when he made his edict. Her parents knew. The actress, who died a few years ago, was very naive. So naive that she kept a photo of the producer on her nightstand. She left it there when a major soap magazine took a shot of her bedroom. Now the secret is out in the open. The married producer dumped her and wrote her out of the show.

You don't have to be famous to be preyed upon. I had bosses before I started my writing career tell me in various ways, "Want to keep your job?" in a way that made me quit each time. The only person I told was my best friend; my father would have killed every one of them. When I began writing and working on TV, I would constantly see one of these guys. Like Anita Hill, I would say "hello" and move on. In those years, some people treated sexual harassment like a sport. I had one major star grope me after doing an interview when I was a film critic. I hade one former soap actor rub my leg and ask me for something I cannot repeat. The answer would be no. No, I did not come on to these guys. I was shy, and at the time, ugly. Again, this happens everywhere. Boys in school would jab me. Again, I was so shy I never said or did anything. When I was asked to my senior prom, my mom thought it would be cool and cheap to have a dress made. The tailor copped a feel. I told my mom and instead got an off-the-rack prom dress.

What does the feel like when this happens? First you are stunned, then you wonder if it was your fault, and finally you get angry. And trust me — your trust of men is zilch.

This happens in Hollywood, from big stars to small, and off-screen, too. It's just as bad either way.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.