Olivia Munn is defending The Newsroom writer Aaron Sorkin for his portrayal of a controversial storyline on the show involving a campus rape accusation.
The 34-year-old actress plays Sloan Sabbith on the show, who is in a relationship with producer Don Keefer (Thomas Sadoski). Don is assigned to speak with an alleged campus rape victim, who set up a website where victims can tell their story publicly and anonymously. Don does not agree with the use of the site, saying that it could lead to victimizing innocent males.
“It should have been more poignant and more interesting, and not about her,” Olivia told EW about writer Alena Smith, who publicly criticized the episode. “The reality is that Sorkin writes things so that they can be talked about, and so we show both sides of it. I think it was important to show what it’s like for women to be a rape victim, want to speak out, and then have somebody come in and say, ‘Hey don’t do that. That’s going to be bad for you.”
“Sorkin wasn’t saying ‘Don’t do that,’” Olivia said. “He was saying ‘This is what happens.’”
In case you missed it, read the lengthy statement Aaron released about his side of the portrayal of The Newsroom campus rape plotline.
