By Sharon Willdin
Arianne Zucker, who played Nicole Walker on Days of Our Lives for over 24 years, has departed from the popular soap opera and is taking legal action against Corday Productions and co-executive producer Albert Alarr.
Leanne Rutherford, Days of Our Lives fan and retired regional spokeswoman for the NSW Public Transport Commission, says that in her experience of dealing with women’s disempowerment, “it sometimes takes more than one straw to break a woman’s back”.
Rutherford is not surprised how gender inequality has played out in Zucker’s life.
“Injustice can simmer away inside the victim,” she said. “Zucker’s past experiences have resulted in making her want to take a stand, not only for herself, but on behalf of other women.”
The veteran actor alleges Alarr sexually harassed and degraded her on the set of Days of Our Lives over an extended period and that Corday Productions ceased her role on the show after she raised concerns about Alarr’s conduct.
Zucker’s complaints have allegedly been validated by cast and crew members on the set of Days of Our Lives including Camila Banus and Martha Madison.
Following the complaints raised by Zucker both Banus and Madison did not have their contracts renewed by Corday Productions despite their years of experience on the show.
It is not the first time that Zucker has been the target of sexual harassment. She was the subject of Donald Trump’s sexually explicit and lewd comments recorded on the Access Hollywood video.
The Access Hollywood video surfaced on 7 October 2016 and threatened to derail Trump’s chances to win the US election. The footage shows Trump arriving on a tour bus to visit NBC Studios for an introduction to the set of Days of Our Lives to be hosted by Zucker.
In the video Trump jokes and makes demeaning comments about Zucker. Trump tells Billy Bush that as a star he can do whatever he wants to women including “grab them by the p….”.
Rutherford said: “The election of individuals like Trump to positions of power motivates women to take action.”
According to Stephanie Schriock from Time Magazine, Trump’s presidency served as a catalyst to motivate women and they have since become more involved in politics.
Zucker’s lawyer Anahita Sedaghatfar told Rolling Stone: “Ms Zucker wants to ensure that no other woman can be harmed at the hands of Alarr again, and I will fight to make that happen.”
Featured image: Arianne Zucker as Nicole Walker on Days of Our Lives. Photo: YouTube
