Statement of National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s executive director, Dawn Hawkins
Washington, DC –Thursday night, February 13, 2015, “Fifty Shades of Grey” was released in theaters. Dawn Hawkins, executive director of National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCSE), which is the leading organization dedicated to opposing pornography by highlighting the links to sex trafficking, violence against women, and abuse, reluctantly fulfilled her obligation to see the film with the purpose of educating others on its content.
“‘Fifty Shades’ is nothing more than a glamorized version of a hardcore porn film. The film contained far more nudity and sexual violence than should be expected for its R-rating, including sexual sadism induced by belts and ropes in graphic sex scenes,” said Hawkins.
“It is appalling that this abuse is being promoted in mainstream theaters as normal, especially during a week that is traditionally centered on love. The physical and psychological cruelty displayed is lethal to relationships. The movie rebrands men’s violence toward women as acceptable, desirable and sexy,” Hawkins added.
Since launching its boycott of the film, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCSE) has been contacted by abused women and anti-violence activists from all over the world joining our efforts.
“Violence against women and sexual abuse are not appropriate topics of movie entertainment and I hope people will stay away from “Fifty Shades” to stop this Hollywood trend,” Hawkins concluded. Rather than pay money to watch such abuse, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCSE), together with Stop Porn Culture and the London Abused Women’s Centre of London, Ontorio, encourage patrons to boycott the film and to support for survivors of abuse through the #50DollarsNot50Shades campaign.
To learn more and take action, please visit FiftyShadesisAbuse.com.
For an interview with Dawn Hawkins, please contact Amanda Smith at amanda@ncose.com or 202-393-7245.
About National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCSE)
Founded in 1962, National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCSE), formerly Morality in Media (MIM), is the leading national organization dedicated to opposing pornography by highlighting the links to sex trafficking, violence against women, child abuse, and addiction. The organization changed its name to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation early in 2015 to better describe the scope and mission to expose the seamless connection between all forms of sexual exploitation.
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