Weinstein accuser feels forced to settle
other women involved in a class #MeToo
action lawsuit; it is unclear how much she would receive individually. New Zealand model Zoe Brock The settlement would end feels ‘‘extremely forced’’ into nearly every sexual misconduct taking her share of a suit brought against Weinstein US$25 million (NZ$37.95m) settlement and would mean he could avoid from film mogul Harvey admitting any wrongdoing. Weinstein, who she has Brock alleges that in 1997, accused of sexual harassment. when she was 23 and trying ‘‘I have been dealing to move from modelling behind the scenes into acting, with the weight of this Weinstein invited her to negotiation for months his hotel room on the and I have been very pretext of there being a vocal about how unhappy party. Instead, Brock says I am about it with my Weinstein was there legal team,’’ Brock told Zoe Brock alone and naked, asking television Breakfast her for a massage. presenter Hayley Holt yesterday. Brock locked herself in the
‘‘They have been very careful bathroom and was eventually in every email and every interview escorted to another hotel by to say that no-one is being Weinstein’s assistant. forced into this settlement but I The following morning she feel forced, I feel extremely told her agent who, she told Stuff,
forced, I don’t feel like I have a ‘‘invalidated the story and looked choice.’’ The conundrum, she at me like I was a hooker’’. explained, was that if she took the He then ‘‘tricked’’ her into settlement – which would be paid another meeting with Weinstein out by Weinstein’s insurance, where he intimidated her into meaning he would not part with staying quiet. any of his own wealth – and In the intervening years, dropped a proposed class action Brock ‘‘wrapped [the incident] up lawsuit, she would not be able to in humour and I told it as a funny bring the same charges against story at dinner parties’’ but she Weinstein again. decided to come forward after a
Under the terms of the settlement, 2017 New York Times expose carried Brock would split the stories of multiple US$18.5m (NZ$28.09m) with the Weinstein accusers.