Lack Of Regulation & A Hierarchy Of Power: A Perfect Storm
When we look at the misconduct, exploitation, and harm that continues to taint the acting industry, it’s tempting to focus on the individuals responsible - the predators, the bullies, the opportunists. But the deeper truth is this: the industry itself creates the perfect conditions for this behaviour to thrive.
At the core of the issue are two intertwined problems: a glaring lack of regulation, and a hierarchy of power that is all too easy to exploit because of that lack of regulation. Together, they’ve created a perfect storm.
No Safeguarding, No Accountability
In most professions, systems are in place to safeguard workers, enforce standards, and protect against misconduct. Teachers, doctors, and even hairdressers must meet qualifications, follow codes of conduct, answer to governing bodies, and have an HR department to report to.
In the acting industry? Virtually none of that exists.
There are no independent regulatory bodies, no HR department, no consistent safeguarding practices protecting young people and vulnerable adults. Without regulation, there is no accountability. And that means people with harmful intentions can operate unchecked for years.
The Hierarchy of Power
Now, add to that the hierarchy this industry is built on. A structure where actors sit at the bottom, and those seen as ‘gatekeepers’ - agents, casting directors, producers, drama schools, directors, teachers - hold the power.
Actors are freelancers. Often financially unstable and dependent on the people above them in the chain for work, connections, opportunities. That imbalance makes them vulnerable. It’s the perfect setup for abuse. And because there’s no regulation in place to balance things out, those at the top who may have nefarious intentions know they can get away with it. They know silence protects them and that fear keeps people quiet.
The truth is: this industry’s very structure has been weaponised and actors are usually so desperate for work that they’re willing to overlook or accept mistreatment, while those who aim to take advantage know they can rely on actors fear and silence to operate unchecked.
The Human Cost
This isn’t just an abstract policy issue. Real people are being harmed because warnings are ignored and bad actors (in both senses of the word) are allowed to keep working.
For example:
’Archie Purnell’ the con-artist behind Bodhi Talent was kicked off of the UK’s casting platform Spotlight for fraud. He was then able to re-join with a new name, being the head of a new agency, using falsified references. Over the following years multiple reports were made to Spotlight and the actor union Equity regarding Archie and Bodhi Talent, all of which were ignored or dismissed.
This eventually led to tens of thousands of pounds stolen and dozens of actors, parents, and industry professionals scammed and exploited.
Multiple reports were also made to the same organisations regarding International Artist Management. These reports were also ignored - and then the agency was exposed for sending multiple fake auditions to clients. Despite this, no real consequences were brought forward and the agency is still able to use Spotlight, and is allegedly still sending fake auditions sent to them via that very site.
Rogue agency Lucy Harrison Casting was also reported to Equity in February of 2024, following the Bodhi Talent fallout, regarding unlawful requirements of paid-for services in order to join the agency. The report was dismissed and 18 months later the agency was exposed for scamming hundreds of actors and parents and stealing and at least £50,000 - that we know of.
Ryan Kirwan, the ‘showreel sexter’ cyberflasher, was reported to an agency that ran their own podcast by a female victim of Ryan’s. She warned them about Ryan’s behaviour and the multiple victims - telling this agency that an article was soon to run and so they may want to consider removing the clips, videos, and episodes that featured Ryan and advertised his services. This woman was ignored by this agency, the clips remained live…that is until the article came out and only then were they removed.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a wider pattern where reports aren’t taken seriously, those in a position to help hide behind the idea that there’s “nothing they can do”, and perpetrators continue to operate openly despite mounting evidence. Each ignored warning represents another person put at risk.
Lack Of Warning
Even if organisations and industry bodies do step in, they do what they can to treat issues as isolated instead of facing the facts - that abuse and exploitation are woven in to the very fabric of this industry (I speak more about this IN MY BOOK) and that more needs to be done at every level to combat the rampant abuse of power that goes on in this industry. They prefer to sweep cases under the carpet, instead of acknowledging institutionalized issues and putting public warnings out to make others aware. This doesn’t protect the people within the industry. It protects the industry’s image.
What Needs To Change
If the industry truly wants to address misconduct, there needs to be structural change.
That means:
Independent regulation of drama schools, agencies, production companies, training programmes, theatres, and individuals.
Mandatory safeguarding policies across all institutions.
Clear reporting channels with independent oversight.
Real consequences for those who exploit, abuse, or cover up misconduct.
Victims being believed, heard, listened to, and supported.
It also means dismantling the way the hierarchy is weaponised. Power should not be used to silence or intimidate. Gatekeepers should not get to operate with no checks or balances.
Conspiracy Of Silence
Every major scandal in this industry points back to the same root issue: the absence of regulation and accountability, coupled with a hierarchy of power that’s all to easy to exploit.
It isn’t just “a few bad apples.” It’s a system that allows them to grow, spread, and harm without consequence. And what keeps it all going? The conspiracy of silence, and the lack of help from those who are in a position to sound the alarm without putting the onus on those who experience misconduct to be the ones raising the red flags.
For too long, fear has been used as a weapon. Victims are told to stay quiet or risk their careers. Colleagues look the other way because “it’s not their business.” Institutions sweep things under the rug to protect their reputation. That silence is what perpetrators rely on.
Breaking that silence is what changes things. Speaking up - even just to one person - chips away at the power abusers think they hold. Every report, every shared story, every refusal to look the other way proves them wrong. It shows we are not afraid. It shows we don’t accept being taken advantage of.
This industry has been a playground for opportunists for too long. But that only continues if we let the silence do the work for them. By refusing to stay quiet, by supporting one another, and by demanding accountability, we make it harder and harder for perpetrators to hide.
The hierarchy of power doesn’t have to stay rigged against us. The lack of regulation doesn’t have to mean no protection. Together, we can change the weather of this storm. And the louder we are, the clearer the message: we won’t be silenced, and we won’t stand for exploitation anymore.
Written by Alexa Morden
Read more about how to combat the conspiracy of silence here.