Part 5/8:
The evolving cultural landscape of the 2010s further complicated matters. The behaviors exhibited by Ari Gold, once seen as groundbreaking on television, began to attract criticism as society's expectations shifted. During the rise of the #MeToo movement, Piven found himself facing allegations that he insists are false—a plight that has been described as "collateral damage" by comedian DL Hughley. The portrayal of his character made Piven an easy target in a cultural reckoning that sought to address deep-seated issues in Hollywood.