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I spoke to Tyler Oakley, one of the biggest YouTube personalities and bestselling author of , about his inspiration for building his successful YouTube channel, the benefits and drawbacks of technology, how he decides what projects to take on and which ones to avoid, and his top tips for building an online following on social media.

Oakley has amassed 8.1 million YouTube subscribers, generating nearly 600 million views between all of his videos. In total, Oakley has amassed more than twenty-one million social media followers through his humorous, no-holds-barred YouTube videos, high-profile interviews, and social rights advocacy. After uploading his first video eight years ago, Oakley took the Internet by storm. With successes ranging from interviews with First Lady Michelle Obama and boy band One Direction, a worldwide live tour, and his chart-topping podcast Psychobabble, Oakley is an Internet icon.

On screen, Oakley has done appearances on broadcasting platforms, having some that air on national TV. Oakley was seen on Insider Tonight, featuring co-hosts Kevin Frazier, and Thea Andrews. He has also interviewed live from the 2014 Kids Choice Awards red carpet, along with many other events that have him meeting and speaking to celebrities.

Dan Schawbel: What inspired you to start uploading videos to YouTube and what was the breaking point when you knew you "made it" as an Internet celebrity?

Tyler Oakley: I actually began making YouTube videos to keep in touch with friends and family - I had just gone off to college and it was my way to keep everyone up to date with that new chapter of my life. What started as a diary soon became something much more.

The first time was when I had 100 views on a single video and I was like, "Uhhh... I don't have 100 friends???" so it definitely opened my eyes and I quickly realized that strangers could find me on the Internet. I also remember once in college I was at a university football game, and I looked around, knowing that the packed stadium could fit 75,000 people, and I had more subscribers than that. It's sometimes hard to visualize the amount of people who tune in, but when I thought of it that way, it blew my mind.

Schawbel: When you started gaining notoriety, what led you to become an activist on some major issues? What impact do you believe you've made so far?

Oakley: Back in 2008, when I made my first video about The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focusing on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, I received a postcard from one of the founders saying thank you for the video and back then I barely had any subscribers. Seeing that was the encouragement I needed to stay involved and use my influence to be a part of a movement. Since then I've had that postcard on my shelf as a reminder to focus on what's important.

For the past couple of years, I have hosted a birthday campaign to support The Trevor Project and was able to raise over $1 million dollars by asking my viewers to donate what they could. To see the impact my platform can have on the online community and bringing awareness to The Trevor Project message has been the most important thing I think I'll ever accomplish.

Schawbel: What do you believe are the benefits and drawbacks with advances in technology?

Oakley: I'd hate to imagine technology used to harm or bully others. Anonymity on the Internet can allow some people to say things they'd never say to people in person. I'd definitely say there are more benefits to advances in technology though, the best of all being the ability to make connections with people all over the world that you might not have ever had the chance to meet. The Internet can expand your worldview, and help you see a bigger picture.

Schawbel: As a creator, and entrepreneur, how do you decide what projects to start, what ones to stop, and how long you will invest in them?

Oakley: If there is a project or something that inspired me that I am truly passionate about, I will create content around that topic(s) on my channel/podcast. With regard to working with brands/companies/organizations, they all have to be in line with my brand and messaging and what I am wanting to put forth. I need to have a genuine and authentic connection to the product/the organization. I always try to be my best self and just live my best life, and I talk about it on camera. I think people gravitate toward authenticity and that's what I put forth in my videos. As long as I still love something, I'll keep it in my life.

Schawbel: As someone who has built a major following on social media, what are your top three tips on how to best use content to make a name for yourself?
Oakley:
1. Be yourself. Nobody wants to follow an imitation of something that's already successful - why subscribe to a second rate version of something else?

2. Don't give up. It took me years to get to where I am today, and with the oversaturated landscape of social media, it's can be hard to break through the noise.

3. Follow your passion. People gravitate toward those who enjoy what they're doing. I have no reason to watch make-up tutorials, but there are certain beauty vloggers that I always tune-in to - because I love them and watching them love what they do. Do what you love and the audience will appreciate that.

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Tyler Oakley: From YouTube Star To Author And LGBTQ Activist

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I spoke to Tyler Oakley, one of the biggest YouTube personalities and bestselling author of "Binge," about his inspiration for building his successful YouTube channel, the benefits and drawbacks of technology, how he decides what projects to take on and which ones to avoid, and his top tips for building an online following on social media.

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"For some folks it's just a function of age," Robert Downey Jr. tells Vanity Fair contributing editor Rich Cohen, on the topic of beating one's demons. "It's perfectly normal for people to be obsessive about something for a period of time, then leave it alone." When asked about the incident in 1996 in which Downey's neighbors came home to find the actor passed out in their 11-year-old son's bed, he tells Cohen this was "an uncommon occurrence for me. Happened to be a very public one. I was not a guy who blacked out."

READ THE FULL STORY: The Ride of His Life

Talking about his time at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison and the process of returning to his old life, Downey says, "Job one is get out of that cave. A lot of people do get out but don't change. So the thing is to get out and recognize the significance of that aggressive denial of your fate, come through the crucible forged into a stronger metal. Or whatever. But I don't even know if that was my experience. It's funny: five years ago, I would've made it sound like I'm conscious of my own participation in seizing the similarities. But so many things have become less certain. I swear to God. I am not my story."

Downey tells Cohen he's probably inherited his addictions, which leads to a discussion on his son Indio, a 20-year-old musician who was recently charged with felony drug possession. "He's his mother's son and my son, and he's come up the chasm much quicker than we did," says Downey. "But that's typical in the Information Age; things get accelerated. You're confronted with histories and predispositions and influences and feelings and unspoken traumas or needs that weren't met, and all of a sudden you're three miles into the woods. Can you help someone get out of those woods? Yes, you can. By not getting lost looking for them." After a pause, Downey adds, "Pick a dysfunction and it's a family problem."

Cohen speaks with Downey at his home in Malibu, which not only features a giant R placed in the lawn as well as an animal pen with two goats and some alpacas (which he doesn't know why he has) but is home to his extensive car collection, which includes a Porsche, a Corvette, and a "Ford F150. Bentley given to me in lieu of back-end payment for Iron Man 3. Volvo. That's a Woody. That's a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang. That's a 1970 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda. That's my dear friend the Audi, whom I've had a lovely relationship with since the first Iron Man. It's an A8. That's an Audi R7, arguably one of the greatest cars ever made. That's a Mercedes-Benz wagon. That's the 2011 VW GTI." When Cohen asks Downey whether this is a post- Iron Man collection, Downey says, "Are you kidding? Before that, I didn't even have the GTI."

On Iron Man, The Avengers, and the resurgence of Marvel Comics, Downey tells Cohen, "I've gone from being convinced that I am the sole integer in the approbation of a phenomenon to realizing that I was the lead in the first of a series of movies that created a chain reaction that, if everything didn't fire the way it was supposed to, there's no operator, no anything. And you go, O.K., life is doing something here that included me but did not require me. But, yes, that role means a lot. Marvel is kind of like this sacred brotherhood."

Downey talks to Cohen about The Judge, the first feature film by Team Downey, the production company he and his wife, Susan, started together: "It was the least likely first Team Downey project, but there was something in the process that was so provocative. I'd find myself tearing up during every work session, because of constellations being lit by the subject matter, this idea of going home, what it is to return, fractured relationships, the drama of it. It was a big experiment-with Susan's cred and my bit of leverage. How do we do it when we get the opportunity? O.K., here's all the rope, guys."

Downey tells Cohen he is "really looking forward" to the baby he and Susan are expecting, and shows Cohen the latest addition to his car collection: a Honda Odyssey. "If I'm gonna have two of 'em in car seats then I gotta be ready," he says.

In a video interview on VF.com, Downey says, "The other funny thing about doing these genre action movies is you don't want to be the tubby guy," revealing he does kung fu, strength training, Qigong, and Tracy Anderson. When asked about his food weaknesses, he replies, "Ice Cream. Cheeseburgers. Listen to me. I want a cheeseburger. I want bacon on it. I know I'm not supposed to. I want a lot of cheese. I want Thousand Island. I might even put some Mulberry Street Pizza pizza oil on it. If I could eat whatever I wanted every day, I would have Domino's pizza with pasta carbonara inside every slice. And at night I would have Neapolitan ice cream until I felt absolutely toxic. And then I would drift off telling myself, 'It's going to be O.K. . . . It's going to be O.K. you're going to train in the morning.' "
This story is featured in the October issue; for access to the full story, subscribe now to Vanity Fair's digital edition.

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Robert Downey Jr. Speaks About His Addictions

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"For some folks it's just a function of age," Robert Downey Jr. tells Vanity Fair contributing editor Rich Cohen, on the topic of beating one's demons. "It's perfectly normal for people to be obsessive about something for a period of time, then leave it alone."

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Breaking the Stigma surrounding Mental Health

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Breaking the Stigma surrounding Mental Health

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Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was inspired by her fans when she established the Born This Way Foundation, which aims to empower youth, the singer told Billboard. While the organization is not solely mental health-focused, Gaga said she wanted to inspire those who were struggling.

"They would tell me their stories -- and many of them were very dark," she said. "As I began to care for them and to see myself in them, I felt I had to do something that would remind kids they're not alone. When they feel isolated, that's when it leads to suicide."

In 2017, Gaga joined Prince William on a video chat where they discussed their struggles with mental health issues and experiences in therapy.

Most recently, she penned an essay published in The Guardian on Oct. 9, 2018, about the "larger mental health emergency we are so far failing to adequately address."

"Sometimes they are famous names such as Anthony Bourdain or Kate Spade that make headlines, but they are all sons or daughters, friends or colleagues, valued members of families and communities," the article states. "Mental health currently receives less than 1 percent of global aid. Domestic financing on prevention, promotion and treatment is similarly low. At present, every nation in the world is a 'developing' country when it comes to mental health."

Glenn Close

Actress Glenn Close has been a vocal supporter of mental health groups since finding out that her sister, Jessie Close, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2010. She founded Bring Change to Mind that same year, a nonprofit looking to raise awareness and break stigmas. Personally, Close has revealed a struggle with depression.

Most recently, she spoke out at an event in Michigan to expose the mental health struggles students on college campuses may experience. "There's a lot of anxiety, depression, and stigma on campuses. I think kids are really, really open and ready to talk about it," she told The Associated Press in March 2018.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey has been living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder since 2001, but the singer told People she "didn't want to believe it." She trucked on through a 2015 divorce from Nick Cannon, a 2016 reality show, a Christmas empire that exploded into a children's book and movie in 2017 and a New Year's Eve Times Square performance debacle before finally opening up about her diagnosis in April 2018.

"Until recently, I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me," she told the publication. "It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn't do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love -- writing songs and making music."

Whitney Cummings

Whitney Cummings knows a thing or two about struggling with that voice inside your head. The comedian penned a Lenny Letter about her diagnosis in December 2015 with codependency, a condition she told amNewYork was "defined as being unable to tolerate the discomfort of others." Now, the "Two Broke Girls" creator is keeping the conversation going with a memoir, "I'm Fine ... And Other Lies." "It was making me do crazy things and suffer way more than is necessary. My inner monologue would say things to me that if anyone else said, I would call the police," she said. As for her Lenny Letter reveal: "There was an amazing, overwhelming response to my being vulnerable about all this stuff I thought I was supposed to hide and pretend I didn't have -- addiction, eating disorders and body dysmorphia. I decided to write the book I wish would have been available to me when I was younger."

Emma Stone

Emma Stone spoke to a therapist regularly as a child to help cope with her anxiety struggles, the actress told Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" on Sept. 19, 2017. Stone shared a drawing she created at age 9 that read, "I am bigger than my anxiety." "I was a very, very, very anxious child and I had a lot of panic attacks," she said. "This is me, I guess. It's really great artistry with my shoes and then this is anxiety here ... I benefitted in a big way from therapy." Stone opened up about her "immobilizing" anxiety attacks in a 2012 interview with Vogue, saying acting helped her break out of her shell as a teen.

Troian Bellisario

"Pretty Little Liars" actress Troian Bellisario opened up about her struggle with anorexia in an essay published on Tuesday, July 18 2017, on Lenny Letter. "As someone who struggles with a mental illness, my biggest challenge is that I don't always know which voice inside me is speaking," she wrote for the digital publication created by Lena Dunham and Jennifer Konner, adding, "There is a part of my brain that defies logic. Once, it completely convinced me I should live off 300 calories a day, and at some point, it told me even that was too much. That part of my brain is my disease, and there was a time when it had absolute authority over me. It almost killed me..."

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds says the tumultuous, more than decade-long effort to make "Deadpool," which went on to earn the biggest global box-office of any R-rated film, left him suffering panic attacks.

"I felt like I was on some schooner in the middle of a white squall the whole time. It just never stopped," the actor said in the December 2016 issue of GQ. "When it finally ended, I had a little bit of a nervous breakdown. I literally had the shakes. I went to go see a doctor because I felt like I was suffering from a neurological problem or something. And every doctor I saw said, 'You have anxiety.' "

Amanda Seyfried

Continuing to help dispel the stigma about mental illness, actress Amanda Seyfried has expanded on comments she made in 2015 about the efficacy of therapy, speaking more in-depth about her obsessive compulsive disorder.

"I'm on Lexapro," Seyfried said in a 2016 issue of Allure, referencing a brand name of escitalopram, a common medication used to treat conditions including OCD, "and I'll never get off of it. I've been on it since I was 19, so 11 years. I'm on the lowest dose. I don't see the point of getting off of it. Whether it's placebo or not, I don't want to risk it."

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is an ultimate mental health advocate. She's been open about her struggles with eating and bipolar disorders since checking out of rehab in 2011. Aside from being open about her journey through her music (see "Skyscraper"), Lovato let the world watch her recovery in the 2012 MTV documentary "Stay Strong."

She spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia about the nation's lack of resources for mental health treatment.

"We can do better. Every one of us can make a difference by getting educated on this epidemic and its frightening statistics and by breaking the stigma," she said.

In August 2018, the actress entered rehab following a drug overdose. "I now need time to heal and focus on my sobriety and road to recovery. The love you have all shown me will never be forgotten and I look forward to the day where I can say I came out on the other side," she said in a since-deleted Instagram post.

Lena Dunham

Similar to her "Girls" character Hannah Horvath, Lena Dunham has been open about her struggles with anxiety. She took to Instagram to explain that women on psychiatric medication are not "out-of-control."

"Most women on meds are women who have been brave enough to help themselves," she wrote in January 2016. "Meds don't make me a hollowed out version of my former self or a messy bar patron with a bad bleach job. They allowed me to finally meet myself."

Emma Watson

After breaking free from the role of Hermione Granger that defined her childhood, Emma Watson took on a new one: Feminism and gender equality advocate. While the actress often speaks of women's rights, she addressed the issues that men suffering from mental disorders also face during her 2014 HeForShe campaign speech.

"I've seen young men suffering from mental illness, unable to ask for help for fear it would make them less of a man ... Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong ... I want men to take up this mantle ... reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned," Watson said.

Justin Bieber

Being at the center of pop fame can be lonely, so Justin Bieber says. The singer told NME Magazine in November 2015 that the intense attention he receives from the media and public made him depressed.

"[I feel depressed] all the time. And I feel isolated. You're in your hotel room and there are fans all around, paparazzi following you everywhere, and it gets intense. When you can't go anywhere or do anything alone you get depressed," Bieber said. He also revealed he feared he would follow a similar path as the late Amy Winehouse by allowing the media attention to affect his mental well-being.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez took a step back from touring in August 2016, citing anxiety, panic attacks and depression. In a statement to Us Weekly, she wrote that her mental health had been impacted by her lupus diagnosis. "I know I am not alone by sharing this. I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues," she wrote.

"My self-esteem was shot. I was depressed, anxious. I started to have panic attacks right before getting onstage, or right after leaving the stage. Basically I felt I wasn't good enough, wasn't capable. I felt I wasn't giving my fans anything, and they could see it -- which, I think, was a complete distortion," she later revealed in a March Vogue interview.

Pete Wentz

Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz admitted he struggled with his mental health during his 20s in an interview in 2015. When fans were wondering what broke up Wentz and former wife Ashlee Simpson, the singer sat down with Howard Stern to reveal he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Wentz also experienced anxiety and depression before the band's success in the early 2000s, he said in a video he recorded with mental health aid foundation Half of Us.

"At the end of the day you just need to be able to feel safe in your own skin," he said. "People need to find their own kind of balances and find their own peace."

Hayden Panettiere

"Nashville" star Hayden Panettiere opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression in the hopes that doing so would encourage other new moms to do the same.

"It's something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they're not alone, and that it does heal," she said on "Live! With Kelly and Michael" in September 2015.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling, the magical mind behind "Harry Potter," considered suicide while struggling with depression in her 20s, Fox News reported in 2008. Some of her fans even believe the book's Dementors are a metaphor for a looming depression. Rowling has been extremely responsive to her fans on Twitter when they reach out for advice.

"The world is full of wonderful things you haven't seen yet. Don't ever give up on the chance of seeing them," Rowling wrote to a fan in 2015 who tweeted he wanted to "finally give up."

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Celebs who've spoken out about mental illnesses

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Lady Gaga was inspired by her fans when she established the Born This Way Foundation, which aims to empower youth, the singer told Billboard. While the organization is not solely mental health-focused, Gaga said she wanted to inspire those who were struggling. "They would tell me their stories -- and many of them were very dark," she said.

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Jul 21, 2020

Malika AndrewsESPN Staff Writer

Close

Staff Writer

Joined ESPN in 2018

Appears regularly on ESPN Chicago 1000

The NBA has delivered on its promise to print "Black Lives Matter" on the game court for the league's restart in Orlando.

On Tuesday, the league unveiled the new court, giving reporters in the "bubble" a tour. Black Lives Matter is written on the floor in large, glossy black print.

Here is the NBA restart court in Orlando: the spaced out chairs are the socially distanced bench, Black Lives Matter is written on the court. pic.twitter.com/XGJu1w4QLC
- Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 21, 2020

Instead of having game broadcasters at a table on the sideline at center court, they will be enclosed in Plexiglas panels creating separation between them and the players.

The players' and coaches' bench comprises dozens of spaced-out folding chairs -- each measured to be 6 feet away from the next chair.

The entire court is surrounded by large video screens, where virtual fans and signage like "make noise" -- which is usually on a JumboTron -- could pop up. The virtual technology is still being tested and finalized by the NBA.

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NBA unveils Black Lives Matter on Orlando court

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Jul 21, 2020 Malika AndrewsESPN Staff Writer Close Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2018 Appears regularly on ESPN Chicago 1000 The NBA has delivered on its promise to print "Black Lives Matter" on the game court for the league's restart in Orlando. On Tuesday, the league unveiled the new court, giving reporters in the "bubble" a tour.

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With the allegations against Harvey Weinstein (and other Hollywood men) coming to light and growing daily, more women have come forward to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault - mnd many of them are celebrities.

Alyssa Milano, a champion of the movement, amplified the hashtag #MeToo," a movement that has been around for a decade and was created by Tarana Burke. Now, these celebrities are adding their voice to the conversation and speaking out about their own devastating experiences.

Lady Gaga

This pop singer and icon has used her platform to address many causes over the years, especially those involving mental health and sexual assault. Now, she has chimed in, simply tweeting, "#MeToo," on October 15.
This actress spoke out at a recent event.
Reese Witherspoon

Celebrities are so important to this movement because of their clout. Being able to speak out in public about an issue that affects everyone, in Hollywood and beyond, is essential for bringing attention to the campaign.

That's exactly what Reese Witherspoon did. At the Elle Women in Hollywood event, the actress and entrepreneur discussed an incident when she was assaulted by director as a teenager. "I felt less alone this week than I've ever felt in my entire career," she told the audience.
An Oscar winner shares her own story of sexual harassment.
Jennifer Lawrence

Though she's not active on social media, this Oscar-winning actress also spoke out. At the same event as Witherspoon, Jennifer Lawrence was given a platform and told her own tale.

Lawrence explained that she was forced to participate in a nude lineup, which she called "degrading and humiliating." She added that the producer later tried to "compliment" her, but only added to the issue, saying "he didn't know why everyone thought [she] was so fat, he thought [she] was perfectly 'f-able.'"
: A comedian uses her TV show to talk about rape culture.
Carmen Esposito

From Aug '15: in episode 102 of #TakeMyWife, Rhea & Cameron had to follow a bigger deal comic who tells a rape joke. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/BAhD6wrDad

- Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) October 16, 2017

Both Carmen Esposito and her wife, Rhea Butcher, are comedians. In fact, they created a TV series together, Take My Wife, all about their experiences as a lesbian couple in the comedy world.

On Oct. 16, 2017, Esposito shared a clip from their show, in which they both admit to being survivors of sexual assault, after hearing a fellow comic who told a rape joke on stage. The clip ends with others chiming in and saying, "I am, too."
Next: An activist and actress shared how a popular saying should be changed.
Sophia Bush

Few women in Hollywood have used their clout for good as much as Sophia Bush. The actress and activist took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the #MeToo hashtag.

Bush shared an image that has been circulating on the social media platform of a cross stitch that reads "Boys will be Boys" - only the second "boys" is crossed out, and the words "held accountable for their f***ing actions" are added. She captioned the image with the additional hashtags,"#WomenWhoRoar" and "NoMoreExcuses."
Next: One TV star has used her rebooted show's popularity for good.
Debra Messing

Me too https://t.co/ScX67Kmmiy

- Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) October 15, 2017

The best time to speak out? When your influence is at an all-time peak - and actress Debra Messing knows this better than anyone.

As the rebooted Will and Grace has been bringing her into the spotlight constantly, Messing has continued to shine a light on what's going on in the news cycle, all while keeping up with media appearances. The actress amplified the experiences of others, while adding in her own #MeToo.
Next: She stars on a show that often addresses social justice issues, so it's no surpise this actress spoke out.
Tracee Ellis Ross

Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross was quick to join in on the conversation. The actress, who is the daughter of singer Diana Ross, shared the above image on Instagram, with the accompanying hashtag.
Next: She's responsible for amplifying the movement in the wake of the Weinstein scandal.
The point being made by the quote, which is attributed to writer Shannon Stirone, is an important one. This hashtag was, in part, meant to show the disbelieving men on social media just how frequently sexual harassment and assault happen.

Alyssa Milano

.@Alyssa_Milano on #MeToo: "This was about showing that this happens everywhere. That it's not just Hollywood." https://t.co/E5tePoKBPJ pic.twitter.com/m97eedVJAX

- Good Morning America (@GMA) October 19, 2017

Of course, the woman who brought the hashtag back into circulation, Alyssa Milano, must be mentioned. After first tweeting on Oct. 15, 2017, Milano has continued to discuss why she did so and the importance of the conversation spreading.
Next: This actress shared an upsetting story about her own sexual assault.
Appearing on Good Morning America, Milano said about the movement, "Really, this is about showing that it happens everywhere. That it's not just Hollywood, that it's not just actresses ... What Tarana Burke has really enabled us to do is put the focus back on the victims ... and what that enables us to do is say 'No more.'"

Evan Rachel Wood

I didnt know it was rape & felt like it was my fault because I said no repeatedly but the door was locked, the building was empty-

- #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 16, 2017

- I was scared and overpowered so I left my body went numb and gave in. Blamed myself for years. #metoo

- #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 16, 2017

Many of the women retweeting or using the hashtag don't give any explanation - and that's OK. No one should feel that they have to share their story to know that it is valid, but actress Evan Rachel Wood has decided that she wants to share hers.
Next: One actress defends the movement and looks to help it grow.
In a series of tweets, Wood explained how a romantic partner raped her while she was asleep and that it happened repeatedly. She detailed how she has suffered from PTSD ever since, adding, "Sharing my stories and feeling less alone really helps. So thank you for listening."

Rosario Dawson

All too pervasive... Me too. #MeToo #TogetherWeRise https://t.co/ju5K3USDt8

- Rosario Dawson (@rosariodawson) October 16, 2017

She may be the thread that ties the Defenders together onscreen as Claire Temple, but Rosario Dawson is just as tough in real life. And she's speaking out for assault victims everywhere.
Next: She shines a light on why discomfort isn't a reason not to help victims of sexual harassment.
Dawson added her #MeToo, while calling the issue "all too pervasive." She also added that she wants to help continue to expand the discussion so that it is more inclusive.

Jenny Slate

Bc I thought ppl wld blame me or my sense of humor (which they DID, btw) it was scary&degrading to speak out re: harassment at work. #MeToo

- jenny slate (@jennyslate) October 16, 2017

Comedic actress Jenny Slate may be best known as the awful Mona Lisa on Parks and Recreation, but she is clearly nothing like the character. Slate has done a lot for women, including starring in Obvious Child, a groundbreaking film about, among other things, abortion.
Next: This actress first experienced sexual harassment many years ago and spoke out then.
Slate took to Twitter to add her own thoughts on #MeToo. She said, "If [you] feel uncomfy about saying 'Dont[sic] speak that way about women' while in a social setting, imagine what it feels like to be the subject."

Caterina Scorsone

Many of the women accusing Weinstein are no longer in Hollywood, having left due to their experiences. One celebrity, Caterina Scorsone, also quit showbiz after a brush with sexual harassment, and what's even more unique is that she was given a platform to speak then.
Next: A talk show host makes us laugh while getting real about this issue.
Scorsone, who now stars on Grey's Anatomy, shared an image of an article she wrote as a teenage actress in Canada, detailing an incident in which a director tried to convince her to have sex with him for a role. She explains that no one took her accusation seriously, which left her disheartened and frustrated with the industry.

Ellen DeGeneres

This hilarious woman is almost always silly on her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. But Ellen DeGeneres has always been an advocate and was quick to add her voice this time around.
Next: This actress is asking a question about sexual harassment that many other women have wondered.
DeGeneres posted the hashtag on Twitter and then spoke in a segment on her show, saying, "This is a not a male thing or a female thing ... it's a human thing." She went on to throw in some jokes surrounding social media etiquette, but ended by saying, "As hard as this is to talk about, at least we're talking about it ... hopefully, conversations that we're having now will free all of us."

Evangeline Lilly

A lot of women have one major thing in common when it comes to their stories: They haven't spoken up because they don't know if what happened to them was "bad enough." Actress Evangeline Lilly is among them.
Next: Her new book talks about her own sexual assault, and she's joining in to investigate all angles of the movement.
Lilly shared a simple image with the hashtag on Instagram. She went on to explain her hesitation, adding, "This level of institutional change is a war, not a battle."

Gabrielle Union

Thank you for the opportunity to speak my truth. #WereGonnaNeedMoreWine #MeToo https://t.co/KNZQvFxYxM

- Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 18, 2017

Many celebrities, especially those of color, have been about sexual assault and harassment for years. The conversation around Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood must involve discussing race, and actress Gabrielle Union is on it.
Read more: Reese Witherspoon Says Agents Pressured Her to Remain Silent About Being Sexually Assaulted
While promoting her new book We're Going to Need More Wine, which discusses her own sexual assault at the age of 19, Union has embraced the "Me Too" movement. But she is also quick to point out the things we're not talking about, retweeting a BuzzFeed article about the different angle the story takes for women of color, adding, "Important read!"

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Lady Gaga and Other Celebrities Who Are Saying 'Me Too'

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With the allegations against Harvey Weinstein (and other Hollywood men) coming to light and growing daily, more women have come forward to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault - mnd many of them are celebrities. Alyssa Milano, a champion of the movement, amplified the hashtag #MeToo," a movement that has been around for a decade and was created by Tarana Burke.