Weinstein faces more sex allegations in U.K.
NEW YORK — The British inquiry into Harvey Weinstein intensified Sunday with detectives now investigating a further four allegations of rape and sexual assault against the disgraced Hollywood producer.
The latest investigations relate to allegations of assault in London in 1992, 2010, 2011 and 2015. The announcement came after two more women accused Weinstein of raping them.
Lysette Anthony, a British actress, said he had attacked her in her London home in the late 1980s. A second, unidentified woman said she was raped in 1992.
Weinstein, 65, has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. More than two dozen women, including superstars Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow and Canadians Sarah Polley, Erika Rosenbaum and Mia Kirshner, have come forward with allegations of lewd behaviour or sexual assault.
On Saturday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists said its board had voted “well in excess of the required two thirds majority” to expel Weinstein.
Police in New York have asked anyone with a complaint to come forward, and detectives in London confirmed they were looking into a total of five allegations made by three complainants.
In an op-ed article for the New York Times, Polley, who gave up acting for directing, recounted spurning Weinstein’s advances after he told her of advancing the career of another, unidentified, actress.
“Because of his “very close relationship” with this actress, she had gone on to play leading roles and win awards. If he and I had that kind of “close relationship,” I could have a similar career. “That’s how it works,” I remember him telling me.”