It’s been three years since Emile Hirsch assaulted a woman at the Sundance Film Festival, and Hollywood has apparently forgiven him.
The 33-year-old actor has been cast in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film about the Manson murders, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood.
Along with Hirsch, the film features an all-star cast, including Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dakota Fanning, James Marsden, Timothy Olyphant and Al Pacino.
But one person who has been left infuriated by Hirsch’s casting in the film is actress Jameela Jamil.
Writing on Twitter shortly after the announcement was made, the 32-year-old Good Place star called Hirsch’s casting in the movie an “INTENSE case of rich white male privelege [sic]”.
Cool. Emile Hirsch strangled my tiny female best friend until she blacked out at a party in front of dozens of witnesses at Sundance Film Festival (and was convicted) but Tarantino just cast him in a movie. INTENSE case of rich white male privelege eh? Cool. Cool. Cool. ???????? pic.twitter.com/FkZNmK5fda
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 8, 2018
In a series of tweets, Jamil went on to say the actor “has not apologised for this heinous crime, but is re-joining Hollywood’s elite”.
Left her with three years of PTSD and never paid for her treatment, and still hasn’t apologized to her. Not today Satan, not today… pic.twitter.com/VvO3rwX9L5
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 8, 2018
Emile Hirsch has not apologized for this heinous crime, but is re-joining Hollywood’s elite. Slow clap to everyone involved in this movie. So many other actors who haven’t attacked women to choose from… pic.twitter.com/UAwwKVE0Kj
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 8, 2018
She then went on to speak about the Time’s Up movement which has swept Hollywood in recent months, saying that “by celebrating men who hurt women, we tell men and women, it is ok to hurt women”.
Today has been a slightly intense day. I am extremely moved by the support for my friend. I hope Emile does right by her. I hope if he does not, the cast moves away from him. By celebrating men who hurt women, we tell men and women, it is ok to hurt women. Time’s up on this shit.
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 9, 2018
Jamil also said assaulting women should ultimately be “a career ending decision”, and criticised the actors who are happy to work alongside convicted abusers.
Let’s cast actors who haven’t assaulted any women, and teach the next generation that assaulting women isn’t just a “mistake”, it’s a career ending decision. People should absolutely be able to find jobs after prison, just not in huge Hollywood films being paid so well
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 9, 2018
And treated like royalty. Let’s change our messaging and keep to the promises of the Time’s Up movement. To the actors in these films, don’t wear black to the awards ceremonies and wear your Time’s Up pins and then work alongside people who have abused women.
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 9, 2018
Especially those who have made no reparations towards the victims whose lives they have derailed. Forgiveness shouldn’t be given to those who do not make every effort to make amends to the person they hurt, not just the judge. That’s the last I have to say on the matter. J. ⌛️
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) June 9, 2018
Hirsch – who was at the peak of his career after a series of acclaimed roles in award-winning films like Into the Wild and Milk – was attending a party at the film festival in January 2015 when he assaulted a female Hollywood executive named Daniele Bernfeld.
According to TMZ, a drunken Hirsch approached Bernfeld and accused her of being a “rich kid” who shouldn’t have been at Sundance.
She apparently went to move away from the actor, before he grabbed her and “put her in a chokehold”.
According to Bernfeld, he then “pulled her across the table and onto the floor”, before throwing himself on top of her.
He then allegedly wrapped his hands around her throat and proceeded to choke her, before two bystanders intervened and pulled him off her.
“The front and back of her throat were touching and she remembers things going dark,” Bernfeld recounted, according to the police report.
Bernfeld later said she thought she “was going to die” in the attack, as reported by News.com.au.
Police arrived at the scene to find a heavily intoxicated Hirsch, and saw red markings on Bernfeld’s neck and upper chest.
Hirsch was charged with third degree felony aggravated assault and charged with misdemeanor intoxication.
The actor’s spokesperson later told TMZ: “Emile consumed an enormous amount of alcohol on the evening in question and he has no memory of what happened.”
After pleading guilty to all charges in August 2015, Hirsch was sentenced to 15 days in prison, 50 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a US$4750 fine.
Bernfeld later slammed his sentence in a letter to the court.
“Quite simply, this punishment does not fit the crime,” she wrote, as reported by CNN.