The silence surrounding Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein

THE US liberal establishment was accused of a “deafening silence” over Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein last night as fresh evidence emerged of his predatory sexual behaviour.

The movie producer, 65, has faced a string of resignations from his firm and legal team since it emerged he had paid settlements to at least eight women over sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact claims. His victims accused him of appearing naked in front of them and asking them to watch him shower.

Despite being an open secret in the industry, his sordid behaviour continued for nearly three decades. Even after Weinstein apologised, Hollywood stars refused to condemn him.

Chat show hosts have also been berated for staying quiet on the allegations. Critics say it amounts to hypocrisy just months after fury in Hollywood over a tape in which Donald Trump admitted groping women.

Weinstein is known for taking films to Oscars glory, earning awards for stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lawrence – but last night they were all yet to speak out over this scandal.

Actress Rose McGowan, who reportedly received a $100 000 (about R1.37 million) settlement from Weinstein after an incident in the mid-1990s, voiced her frustration at the lack of support from other stars. “Ladies of Hollywood, your silence is deafening,” she wrote on Twitter.

The scandal emerged after actress Ashley Judd revealed that, in the 1990s, Weinstein lured her to what she thought would be a breakfast meeting in his Los Angeles hotel suite. But the producer, wearing a dressing gown, asked to give her a massage. When she declined, he asked her to watch him shower.

Weinstein denied many of the claims and said he would sue the New York Times, which revealed the allegations, for not giving him enough time to respond. The newspaper says it gave him two days.