Studio 10's Denise Drysdale claims #MeToo movement has gone 'too far'

Denise Drysdale has claimed she ‘feels sorry for men’ in the wake of the #MeToo movement, a viral social campaign against sexual assault and harassment.

Speaking on Studio 10 on Friday, the 70-year-old Logie-winner joked about missing the days when ‘grabbing women’s a***s’ and said that #MeToo had gone ‘too far’.

She claimed that new workplace attitudes in the wake of the movement will mean that both men and women suffer in the long term.  

Having her say: Studio 10 star Denise Drysdale has said she ‘feels sorry for men’ while criticising the #MeToo Movement – that raises awareness of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace – for going ‘too far’

‘It’s gone too far,’ Denise said. ‘What are men going to do in the end? Just have all males in one business and all the females in another business?

‘It’s just gone far too far. I feel sorry for men, I really do – whether they open the car door [for women] or not.’ 

When Denise’s co-host Joe Hildebrand joked that men ‘can’t even grab [women] on the a**e anymore’, she joking replied: ‘I miss that!’ 

The Studio 10 panel had been discussing an article published by the Herald Sun that claimed the #MeToo movement has ‘betrayed working women’. 

The report alleged that 60 per cent of male managers now feel ‘uncomfortable’ mentoring women in a working environment.

It also claimed that senior male staff avoid taking part in one-on-one activities with junior female employees due to fear overs ‘how it might look’.

Controversial: When her co-host Joe Hildebrand joked that men ‘can’t even grab [women] on the a**e anymore’, Denise laughed as she joked: ‘I miss that!’

‘I feel sorry for men’: The panel had been discussing an article that revealed 60 per cent of male managers now feel ‘uncomfortable’ to mentor women at work – with Denise commenting: ‘What are men going to do? Just have all males in one business and females in another’

The article argued that male staff are increasingly worried their actions and words could be ‘misconstrued’ and so are avoiding interactions with women altogether. 

Joe, meanwhile, said that he ‘hasn’t let’ the #MeToo movement affect his manner in the workplace because he wasn’t a ‘creepy guy’ to begin with.

‘I haven’t let #MeToo change my behaviour because I didn’t think it was out of line in the first place,’ he said.

Candid: Joe, meanwhile, argued that he ‘hasn’t let’ #MeToo affect his manner in the workplace – he said, ‘I haven’t let #MeToo change my behaviour because I didn’t think it was out of line in the first place’

When asked if he would feel comfortable mentoring a ‘young woman’ in the workplace, Joe replied : ‘I’d help anyone out if they came up to me.

‘Some people you just naturally take a shine to and [you] think there is something in them.’ 

Angela Bishop added that she was ‘lucky enough’ to have had ‘great male mentors’ during her years in entertainment journalism. 

‘I will be having lunch with one of them next week, so if we are seen out together I can assure you it’s all above board!’ she said. 

Speaking out: Angela Bishop added that she has been ‘lucky enough’ to have had ‘great male mentors’ over the years and joked: ”I will be having lunch with one of them next week… I can assure you it’s all above board’

The #MeToo movement emerged in 2017 in response to multiple sexual misconduct allegations made against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men in Hollywood.

Many actresses, including Rose McGowan, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lawrence, have claimed they’ve been sexually harassed in the past. 

The hashtag ‘#MeToo’ was popularised by Alyssa Milano as means for women to share their stories of abuse and harassment on social media.

Taking a stand: The #MeToo movement has seen many Hollywood female stars, including the likes of Rose McGowan, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lawrence, speak up about their experience with sexual harassment in the film industry