Dr. Ann Olivarius is featured in The New York Times commenting on the strategies used to publicly shame and undermine women who have brought allegations against the Alexander brothers.
In the article, she places these tactics in a broader historical context, noting that attempts to discredit women who come forward in cases involving powerful men are longstanding and often effective in silencing victims. Her commentary highlights how reputational attacks and coordinated public narratives can shape perception well beyond the courtroom.
Extract:
Some of the most notable sexual assault and trafficking trials of the last decade, including those of Ghislaine Maxwell, Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Combs, have involved attempts to shame and attack their accusers outside the courtroom, but the brothers’ efforts seem particularly brazen. They appear to include an anonymously run website, now shuttered, that promoted a conspiracy aimed at discrediting their accusers.
“This is the oldest game in town, and it just reinforces the patriarchy. Go back to Mary Magdalene,” said Ann Olivarius, a leading women’s rights lawyer who has represented many high-profile sexual assault victims and has been closely following the case. “It’s worked and it’s kept women quiet.”