Molly Ringwald, the beloved star of '80s teen classics like "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles," has revealed that she was "taken advantage of" during her early career in Hollywood. Despite avoiding common pitfalls like clubbing, Ringwald's youth and naivete made her vulnerable to predatory behavior.
Molly Ringwald, now 56, has opened up about the dark side of her early career in Hollywood, revealing that she was "taken advantage of" during her teen years.
In an appearance on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast, Ringwald explained that despite her young age and lack of experience in the Hollywood social scene, she found herself in "questionable situations" with predatory individuals.
"I never really felt like I was part of a community when I was in Hollywood, just because I was so young, really," Ringwald said. "I wasn't into going out to clubs. I feel like I'm more social now than I was then. I was just too young."
Host Marc Maron, 60, expressed surprise that Ringwald had avoided the pitfalls that often plagued young actresses in Hollywood during that era.
"Well, you're lucky you didn't get taken advantage of or got into some sort of horrible situation," Maron said.
Ringwald's response was blunt and revealing: "Oh, I was taken advantage of," she said. "You can't be a young actress in Hollywood and not have predators around."
Ringwald, who starred in such iconic '80s films as "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," and "Pretty in Pink," explained that she relied on her "incredible survival instinct and a pretty big superego" to protect herself when she found herself in compromising situations.
Despite her own experiences, Ringwald tried to dissuade her 20-year-old daughter from pursuing a career in acting, fearing that she would face similar challenges.
"But, yeah, it can be harrowing," she said. "And I have a 20-year-old daughter now who is going into the same profession, even though I did everything I could to convince her to do something else."
Ringwald's revelation sheds light on the darker underbelly of the entertainment industry, despite the glamour and success often portrayed on-screen.
Her experience echoes the testimonies of other young actresses who have come forward in recent years to share stories of sexual harassment and abuse, highlighting the need for increased awareness and protections for those working in the entertainment industry.
Looking back on her '80s era films, Ringwald has expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging both the positive aspects and the problematic elements that she now views differently.
"When I made those movies with John Hughes, his intention was to not make ‘Porky’s’ or ‘Animal House,’" Ringwald previously told NPR. "But I think, as everyone says, and I do believe is true, that times were different and what was acceptable then is definitely [not] acceptable now and nor should it have been then, but that’s sort of the way that it was."
Ringwald has made it clear that she opposes certain elements of those movies, particularly the sexual harassment faced by her character in "The Breakfast Club."
"There is a lot that I really love about the movie, but there are elements that haven’t aged well — like Judd Nelson’s character, John Bender, who essentially sexually harasses my character," she told The Times.
"I’m glad we’re able to look at that and say things are truly different now."
