Hollywood icon takes leave over harassment

LOS ANGELES • Harvey Weinstein, the larger-thanlife Hollywood executive and Oscar-winner, is taking a leave of absence from his own company after an explosive expose revealing decades of sexual harassment of women, from employees to actress Ashley Judd, was published in The New York Times Thursday.

The article includes firstperson accounts of Weinstein’s alleged conduct, including from Judd, who recounts an incident from two decades ago in which she said she was asked to meet Weinstein in his hotel room. Weinstein greeted her wearing a bathrobe and asked her if she would give him a massage or watch him shower, the paper reported.

“Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly,” Judd told the Times.

Two company officials tell the Times that at least eight women have received settlements from Weinstein over the years, including actress Rose McGowan, who allegedly had an incident with him in 1997 when she was 23.

The New York Times said its investigation uncovered allegations against Weinstein stretching over nearly three decades, which it said it had documented through interviews with current and former employees and film industry workers, as well as legal records, emails and internal office documents.

Weinstein’s attorney, Charles J. Harder, said in a statement that the story was “saturated with false and defamatory statements.”

“We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish,” Harder said. He did not respond to questions about what specific allegations Weinstein was contesting.

Requests for comment from The Weinstein Co. and Judd were not immediately returned.

Weinstein had a powerful perch in Hollywood for three decades, and was known for producing such films as Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting and Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Oscar, and launching careers of actresses and directors with his company Miramax. His often aggressive tactics were chronicled in Peter Biskind’s book Down and Dirty Pictures.

“I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it,” We instein said in a statement. “Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.”

He added he was working with therapists and planning to take a leave of absence to “deal with this issue head on.” His statement did not address any specific incidents.

Harvey Weinstein