Harvey Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax and Weinstein Co., announced that he is taking a leave of absence following a report published in The New York Times.
For decades, Weinstein has held a lofty position in Hollywood as one of the industry's most powerful figures — an old-school, larger-than-life movie mogul who was never shy about throwing his weight around. "The Punisher. Old Testament, I guess," Streep added that night to laughter and applause.
But Weinstein's name — such a regular refrain on countless Oscar nights — on Thursday rang out in a different way. In a bombshell expose, The New York Times reported that Weinstein had reached at least eight legal settlements with women over alleged harassment. With allegations levied by actresses including Ashley Judd and former employees at both the Weinstein Co. and Weinstein's former company, Miramax, the report detailed decades of abuse.
An investigation by The New York Times found previously undisclosed allegations against Mr. Weinstein stretching over nearly three decades, documented through interviews with current and former employees and film industry workers, as well as legal records, emails and internal documents from the businesses he has run, Miramax and the Weinstein Company.
During that time, after being confronted with allegations including sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact, Mr. Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women, according to two company officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. Among the recipients, The Times found, were a young assistant in New York in 1990, an actress in 1997, an assistant in London in 1998, an Italian model in 2015 and Ms. O’Connor shortly after, according to records and those familiar with the agreements.
Weinstein issued a statement to The New York Times. It read, in part:
I came of age in the 60’s and 70’s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then.
I have since learned it’s not an excuse, in the office - or out of it. To anyone.
I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed.
I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.
Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. That is my commitment. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons. Over the last year I've asked Lisa Bloom to tutor me and she's put together a team of people. I've brought on therapists and I plan to take a leave of absence from my company and to deal with this issue head on. I so respect all women and regret what happened. I hope that my actions will speak louder than words and that one day we will all be able to earn their trust and sit down together with Lisa to learn more. Jay Z wrote in 4:44 "I'm not the man I thought I was and I better be that man for my children." The same is true for me. I want a second chance in the community but I know I've got work to do to earn it. I have goals that are now priorities. Trust me, this isn't an overnight process. I've been trying to do this for 10 years and this is a wake-up call. I cannot be more remorseful about the people I hurt and I plan to do right by all of them.
Though Weinstein issued an apology via The Times, one of his lawyers said that he would sue the publication.
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After the Times’ article was published, another lawyer for Weinstein, Charles Harder, said in a statement: “We are preparing the lawsuit now. All proceeds will be donated to women’s organizations.”
“The New York Times published today a story that is saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein,” the statement read. “It relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different eyewitnesses. We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish.”
"We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting," said a New York Times spokesperson in a statement. "Mr. Weinstein was aware and able to respond to specific allegations in our story before publication. In fact, we published his response in full."
The allegations contrast with Mr Weinstein’s public image: as a longtime Democratic party donor, he presented himself as a liberal, championing women’s rights among a range of humanitarian causes.
They follow a spate of leading US industry figures coming under fire for sexual misconduct and business leaders in Silicon Valley facing harassment claims.
Several Democratic lawmakers are distancing themselves from the producer in the wake of the news.
Senators Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts each said they would transfer money to charity in amounts equal to donations they had received from Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Leahy was planning to donate $5,600, Mr. Blumenthal and Mr. Heinrich $5,400 and Ms. Warren $5,000. Some of them were planning to give to groups that advocate for women who are the victims of domestic violence.
With the four senators ridding themselves of Mr. Weinstein’s contributions, other Democratic lawmakers were expected to follow suit on Friday in order to mitigate a deeply embarrassing story.
Though some have backed away from the producer, others are defending him.
Lisa Bloom, another attorney who is advising Weinstein, said in a statement that he was “an old dinosaur learning new ways” and “that due to the power difference between a major studio head like him and most others in the industry, whatever his motives, some of his words and behaviors can be perceived as inappropriate, even intimidating”:
Here is my statement about advising Harvey Weinstein. http://pic.twitter.com/tGC13ZbOE3
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) October 5, 2017
Bloom has been criticized for her comments.
Los Angeles Times’ Robin Abcarian wrote:
… That is a jaw-dropping excuse for workplace sexual misbehavior, even if, as she wrote, “he disputes many of the allegations.”
Would Bloom, daughter of the iconic feminist attorney Gloria Allred, have used that excuse for Donald Trump and O’Reilly, whose accusers she has famously represented in sexual harassment complaints? They’re even older dinosaurs than Weinstein.
Anyway, what kind of signal does a statement like that send to victims, especially coming from an attorney who has made a reputation standing up for women’s rights?
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