Alyssa Milano reveals 'relief' as she reflects on post-Me Too Hollywood after writing tweet that defined movement

Alyssa Milano is reflecting on the strides made in Hollywood almost a decade after sending a tweet that came to define the Me Too movement.

In 2017, the industry underwent a massive reckoning after the now disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein was hit with allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting a flood of women to come forward with accusations against men in power. 

It was a watershed moment that put women's rights center stage and one that was given a concrete name thanks in part to a simple tweet sent by Milano. 

'If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write "me too" as a reply to this tweet,' she shared at the time. 

The power of Milano's platform has ceased to waver, with the star, 53, receiving an award recognizing her advocacy work last week.  

Milano was the recipient of the Survivor Justice Center's 2026 Voice for Justice Award at the organization's Bridge to Justice Gala, where she spoke exclusively with The Daily Mail about a post-MeToo Hollywood and the changes that have been made that now make her feel safe on set. 

'There's been so many changes, not just in Me Too in particular, but also just sensitivity training, which is all about sexual harassment on the set,' she told The Daily Mail. 

'Obviously, we have intimacy coordinators now and I just think that there's an overall sense of what's right and wrong, and I love that,' she said. 

The adoption of intimacy coordinators was one way Hollywood responded to the outcry. 

Intimacy coordinators assist actors during sex scenes, however they have also become a valuable tool beyond sex scenes for Milano, one which allows her to dive deeper into character.

'For me, it just enables me to feel like I can be more vulnerable on set and not feel like I have to just protect and put up the walls that I can allow myself to feel all the things that my character would be feeling in that moment.'

'It's not just sex scenes or kissing scenes,' she elaborated. 'An intimacy coordinator, if you think about it, like crying and doing hard scenes, are just as intimate as doing nude scenes.'

The presence of the coordinators have also brought Milano 'great relief' on set.  

'So for me, it's just a great relief to have someone there that I know is specifically there to make sure I or the actors feel safe.'

Another change that has also been implemented is the inclusion of hotlines allowing callers to anonymously report concerns.  

'There's hotlines now where you report certain things anonymously, and I think it's a big change,' she said. 

'Now, granted, there's so much more that needs to be done, but I do think we are, there's such a reckoning happening right now, but I do think that people can't get away with what they used to get away with.'

The reckoning marked a major turning point in Hollywood that all began after allegations against Weinstein came to light.  

Once a Hollywood heavy-hitter, Weinstein became a symbol of sexual misconduct after media reports revealed allegations against him in 2017.

In total, some 60 women came forward with harrowing claims against Weinstein. He was convicted of various sex crimes in both New York and California. But he is on trial again because an appeals court found that his New York trial was tainted by prejudicial testimony and overturned that conviction. 

Weinstein is living with a litany of health woes including cancer, diabetes, spinal stenosis and a possible immune system problem.

He co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, having produced films such as Pulp Fiction and The Crying Game.

Weinstein has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

Milano said she was 'sickened' by the 'disturbing allegations' against Weinstein when she released a statement responding to the controversy at the time. 

'While I am sickened and angered over the disturbing accusations of Weinstein's sexual predation and abuse of power, I'm happy - ecstatic even - that it has opened up a dialogue around the continued sexual harassment, objectification and degradation of women,' she said. 

'To the women who have suffered any form of abuse of power, I stand beside you. To the women who have come forward against a system that is designed to keep you silent, I stand in awe of you and appreciate you and your fortitude. It is not easy to disclose such experiences, especially in the public eye. Your strength will inspire others. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for fighting this battle so hopefully my daughter won't have to.'

While Milano's Me Too tweet popularized the rallying cry, the two-word phrase itself was used as early as 2006 by social activist Tarana Burke. 

On Thursday, Milano was among several guests honored by the Survivor Justice Center for their work in advocacy. 

The achievement recognizes all the progress her efforts spearheading for important causes have made, however, for Milano, the work never stops.  

'It feels good,' she told The Daily Mail of receiving the award. 'But, I will say, that for me, it's just another opportunity to raise awareness for survivors, also to really give credit to the people who do this work every single day. 

'We're on the front lines, boots on the ground, making a difference in people's lives. So I'm thrilled to be here, but it's bigger than me.' 

Established in 1971, the Survivor Justice Center - formally the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice - has made it it's mission to secure 'justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and empowers them to create their own futures.' 

Their 2026 gala, held at the the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, recognized champions of justice for survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence. 

In addition to Milano, California State Senator Susan Rubio, Judge Mark A. Juhas, and the firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP were also honored.