#MeToo trends on Twitter as Alyssa Milano encourages sexual abuse victims to come forward

Until Monday afternoon, #MeToo remained in the top 3 trending topics on Twitter, one notch below Isnilon Hapilon.

In case you were wondering, it started with Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano’s tweet on Sunday evening.

“If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem,” If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet,” the actress posted a text photo of her friend’s suggestion, before tweeting separately: “Me too.”

If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/k2oeCiUf9n

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2017

According to Huffington Post, “the tweet drew nearly 25,000 responses.” More than 10,000 people have retweeted it, reaching over 20,000 likes.

The hashtag came in the heels of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, where a number of women have stepped forward with sexual assault allegations against him.

Among Hollywood celebrities participating in the hashtag are Mark Ruffalo, Evan Rachel Wood, and Judd Apatow.

In the past week I have heard from at least 6 different women I have known or just met about being sexually assaulted or harassed. The lid is off. Thank you for all your collective courage. This piece had a good way forward. https://t.co/EnRUqFUOjr https://t.co/lYU6RcHK9S

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 15, 2017

Twitter is being flooded with stories of sexual assault and harassment, mostly from women, on the #MeToo hashtag https://t.co/GHDm5ZHG0c

— PEN America (@PENamerican) October 16, 2017

Being raped once made it easier to be raped again. I instinctually shut down. My body remembered, so it protected me.
I disappeared. #metoo

— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 16, 2017

In the Philippines, the hashtag has crossed over to Facebook, as well.

Apart from tales of harassment, the hashtag carries various messages of support and love.

If you are reading and are scared or shamed that Family-Friends-Abusers may SEE YOU. WE ALL LOVE YOU AND BELIEVE YOU TOO ????. #MeToo

— Cynthia Anne Tracy (@cynthia_a_tracy) October 16, 2017

Some men have even changed the rules a little bit, just to send out their support.
 

I’m a man and have not been assaulted, but I stand with all women in fighting misogyny, sexual harassment, and discrimination. #MeToo

— Ryan Davis (@MagicalRyan) October 16, 2017

If you've ever been sexually abused and are still afraid of coming forward, remember: You're not alone. — LA, GMA News