ATHENS – Less than a month after allegations of sexual assault by a Greek Olympic sailing champion sparked a national outcry over a subject long considered taboo, the Greek art world has been swept up in an avalanche of accusations and denials.
A number of famous actors and directors are accused of harassment or assault and removed from high productions. The artistic director of the country’s prestigious national theater has resigned amid a deluge of reports accusing him of sexual abuse and harassment, which he vehemently denied.
Most of the accusations – from men as well as women – surfaced in media reports. Prosecutors in Athens are handling the most serious cases and have promised to investigate all credible allegations.
A judicial official, who would speak only on condition of anonymity, said he expected there would be more cases, although it is unclear how much goes to the trial, given the time that has elapsed since the alleged incidents and a lack of proof.
The storm of accusations against household names and respected figures in the Greek art world comes in one of Europe’s most conservative societies, where such abuses have long been whispered but never openly discussed, which are still being prosecuted.
Last month, Sofia Bekatorou, an Olympic sailing champion in 2004 and one of the country’s most popular athletes, publicly accused a top sailing official of sexually abusing her in 1998. It was the first sensational accusation of sexual assault and abuse of power in Greece since the #MeToo movement shocked established power structures in many other countries.
Her decision to speak out opened the door to similar allegations and sparked an unusual and passionate debate on sexual harassment and abuse in Greece, where, according to studies, up to nine out of ten women welcome unwelcome advances in media, sports, politics and others have. male-dominated sectors.
In the world of performing arts, professionals say that the problem is acute and that men are also being targeted.
The union of Greek actors has received hundreds of calls in recent days from abusive professionals.
Spyros Bibilas, head of the union, told Greek television that actors called him “sobbing”, adding that many of the alleged episodes took place during the decade-long financial crisis in Greece, when job insecurity peaked and people were particularly vulnerable.
In a statement earlier this month, another union representing drama students at the National Theater in Greece denounced ‘countless cases of workplace bullying and sexist violence’ as well as racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination.
In response to the complaints, the Greek Ministry of Culture said it was overseeing an initiative to draw up a code of conduct for state-run cultural institutions. The ministry called on the national actors’ union to report any cases of ill-treatment to the authorities.
“There is no tolerance for abuse of power, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and all forms of violence,” Deputy Minister of Contemporary Culture Nicholas Yatromanolakis said in an email. “The cultural field is and must remain a place where dreams, not nightmares, come true.”
However, some of the most famous people accused of abuse say that they are the victims of public hysteria, where guilt is suspected.
The artistic director of the country’s prestigious national theater, Dimitris Lignadis, resigned on February 6 after reports suggesting he had sexually harassed young actors. He denied the reports. Since his retirement, more reports of sexual abuse have been leveled against him.
In his resignation letter, which was announced by the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Lignadis refers to a ‘toxic climate of rumors’.
His lawyer, Nikos Georgouleas, said that Mr. Lignadis is unfairly targeted and maligned. Since his resignation, posters with his photo have been plastered at bus stops in Central Athens and warned that he will ‘pay for everything’.
“He feels like he’s facing this storm, with new rumors popping up every day,” he said. Georgouleas said telephonically and added that Mr. Lignadis was willing to give ‘prosecutors’ any explanations’.
Messages sent to the Facebook accounts of other acting professionals who are accused have not been answered, and further attempts to achieve this have been unsuccessful.
Harrys Tzortzakis, one of three male actors who accused film director Costas Zapas of sexual harassment, spoke of an ‘omerta’ in the industry, using the word for the Mafia’s code of silence.
In a statement on his Facebook page on January 30, Mr. Zapas refuted the claims.
“I have never pressured anyone to act in a way they do not want,” he wrote.
Mr. Tzortzakis told Greek television last week: “We are afraid to name names if they sue us or who knows what else.” He appealed to the Ministry of Culture to make it clear that it stands by victims.
At the end of January, three actresses issued a joint statement accusing them Kostas Spyropoulos, an actor and director, of sexual harassment. He issued a statement to the Greek media through his lawyer apologizing that he had offended someone, and then issued an order against the Greek television channels to ban them from naming his name in conjunction with the broadcast of the statement and say it is false and violates its rights.
Jenny Botsi, one of the three actresses, thanked me. Bekatorou for breaking a broader silence. Botsi was one of the many who said that Ms. Bekatorou inspired them to come forward.
“She does not know how much good she did,” she said. Botsi told Greek television. “She opened a road and fortunately we seized the opportunity.”
Seven actresses have accused another prominent director and actor, George Kimoulis, of verbal and physical abuse, though not sexual harassment. He dismissed the accusations as “unacceptable and false” and sued at least one of the actresses.
Still, organizers of the popular Athens and Epidaurus festival mr. Kimoulis removed from a play that was to be performed at the ancient Epidaurus Theater this summer.
In a statement, the organizers say they have acted due to ‘the heavy shadow of recent developments’.
Although the public accusations and subsequent deviations caused turmoil in the art world, it was unclear whether it would ever be sued in the courts.
According to legal experts, the biggest problem for the accused is that many of the alleged abuses date back years and that prosecution can be limited by the country’s statute of limitations.
According to Greek law, rape can be prosecuted for up to 15 years. As far as sexual harassment is concerned, the offense expires three months after the incident if no legal action is taken.
Although a debate has begun over the amendment of the law to promote the protection of victims of sex crimes, legal experts have said that it seems unlikely that the government will make any comprehensive changes.
Even Mrs. Bekatorou, who dropped the current spate of accusations, was suspended by prosecutors.
Ms Bekatorou said it was therefore important for victims to “break their silence without delay.”
President Katerina Sakellaropoulou of Greece has expressed her “great concern” over the wave of accusations.
“The one big benefit of this difficult period for the theater and for other areas of the arts and other sectors, is the shaking off of fear,” she said. She said it was equally important that justice be done “to restore the dignity and influence of personalities and institutions that society so desperately needs.”