Alyssa Milano reflects on #MeToo avalanche on Twitter anniversary

Los Angeles, California - Actor Alyssa Milano, who helped popularize the phrase "Me Too," marked the five-year anniversary on Saturday of her tweet that went viral and started a movement.

Actor Alyssa Milano was one of the first to bring the hashtag "#metoo" to the forefront with her viral tweet in 2017.
Actor Alyssa Milano was one of the first to bring the hashtag "#metoo" to the forefront with her viral tweet in 2017.  © Collage: Screenshot/Twitter/Alyssa_Milano & EMMA MCINTYRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Charmed star Alyssa Milano wrote one of the original social media posts featuring the hashtag "#MeToo" on Twitter on October 15, 2017.

"If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted, write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet," the now 49-year-old tweeted.

Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world spoke out in response, and used the catchphrase. Milano's tweet is said to be one of the first and most prominent to trigger an avalanche of reactions online, and an international movement and discussion of women's rights and abuse was born.

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The star has been outspoken about political causes and said she had picked up the term from activist Tarana Burke.

Burke also marked the five-year anniversary of the movement and hashtag this week with a tweet of her own, which Milano also shared.

The actor's tweet appeared in 2017 shortly after the first media reports that multiple women had accused Hollywood powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein (70) of sexual assault. The producer was found guilty of the charges in New York, including harassment and rape, and sentenced in 2020 to 23 years in prison.

Weinstein is currently on trial for more charges of sexual assault and rape in Los Angeles.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/Twitter/Alyssa_Milano & EMMA MCINTYRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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