Harvey Weinstein fired from his own company
Top movie producer toppled in sex scandal
Harvey Weinstein, the movie producer whose combative reign in Hollywood made him an Academy Awards regular, has been fired from The Weinstein Company following an exposé that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations made against him by actresses and employees.
In a statement, the company’s board of directors announced his firing Sunday night, capping the swift downfall of one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers and expelling him from the company he co-created.
“In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company — Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar — have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,” the company’s board said in a statement.
Weinstein had previously taken an indefinite leave of absence following the revelation of at least eight allegations of sexual harassment uncovered in an exposé Thursday by the New York Times.
The board on Friday endorsed that decision and announced an investigation into the allegations, saying it would determine the cochair’s future with the company.
But the Weinstein board, which includes Weinstein’s brother, went further on Sunday, firing the executive who has always been its primary operator, public face and studio chief.
Under his leadership, the Weinstein Co. has been a dominant force at the Oscars, including the rare feat of winning back-to-back best picture Academy Awards with “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist.”
A spokesperson for The Weinstein Co. declined to provide further details on Weinstein’s firing.
Many in the movie industry vented their disgust with the allegations against Weinstein in recent days.
Still, most of the A-listers that Weinstein led to Academy Awards nominations have been largely silent since Thursday’s report.