In the wake of Hollywood's Harvey Weinstein scandal, countless women across the world have stepped forward to share their stories of sexual abuse and harassment.
Heather Ross, also known as Heather Robinson, is a television and movie industry vet who recently told a morning radio show in Tucson, Arizona, about an ugly run-in she had with an overly aggressive unnamed Oscar winner. Her story, however, took a surprise twist because of the actions of the late Carrie Fisher.
Ross, a screenwriter and producer, told 94.9's Morning Mix this Hollywood tale: In 2000, she moved to California, a bright-eyed hopeful eager to make it in the entertainment business. She already had connected with some industry folks on AOL, striking up a friendship with the "Star Wars" actress, she told the station. She also connected with an unnamed Oscar-winning producer — not Weinstein — who agreed to take her to lunch.
Ross said she did not have any qualms or worries seeing the A-lister. Their talk online had been all business. "It wasn't anything romantic at all," she told the morning show, according to a recording. "And I was overweight ... I felt safe thinking, 'OK, I'm overweight, I'm not attractive to these people, I'm not looking to become an actress.' "
But when the producer picked Ross up in his car, within two minutes he pulled over, dropped down the passenger seat, and climbed onto her. She fought him off.
"He said, 'You'll never make a movie in my town, and get the F out of my car.'" Ross told the show. "It happened so quickly, I felt ashamed. I felt like I had done something."
Ross, shocked, stayed quiet for some time. Eventually she confided in Fisher. "She was more very protective of me and more scared of my safety than anything."
A few weeks later, Fisher told her friend she had seen the producer.
"She said, 'I just saw blank at Sony Studios. I knew he would probably be there, so I went to his office and personally delivered a Tiffany box wrapped with a white bow,'" Ross recounted to the show.
When Ross asked what was inside, Fisher said: "It was a cow tongue from Jerry's Famous Deli with a note that said, 'If you ever touch my darling Heather or any other woman again, the next delivery will be something of yours in a much smaller box."
"That's just how she was," Ross said. "She stood up for people."