Guilty! Time’s up for Weinstein
For the #Metoo movement, justice has been served
His fall from grace has rocked Hollywood to its core – marking a descent from industry power broker to predator and social pariah, while signalling a watershed moment for rape victims worldwide.
So, last week’s news that Harvey Weinstein had been convicted of rape and sexual assault was monumental. “This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and it is a new day,” said Manhattan’s district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who had been prosecuting the disgraced film mogul. Actress Ashley Judd, one of Weinstein’s many accusers, echoed his sentiments, telling those who’d testified against him that they “did a public service to girls and women everywhere. Thank you.”
After five days of deliberations at his trial in New York City, the jury found Weinstein guilty of raping actress Jessica Mann in a hotel room in New York in 2013, and sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. These convictions could together potentially carry up to 29 years in prison – although the 67 year old won’t be sentenced until 11 March.
But, despite his victims’ celebrations, there was some outrage, as the same jury found him not guilty on the most serious charges levied against him: two counts of predatory assault, which could have seen him receive a life sentence.
Weinstein heard the verdict before being taken back into custody, where he’ll stay until his sentencing. According to reports, he’s since been admitted to a prison hospital, after suffering chest pains and palpitations. The former film producer, who’s been accused by over 90 women of sexual misconduct, is still waiting to face charges of rape and sexual battery in Los Angeles.
Weinstein’s reckoning began two-and-a-half years ago, after an exposé in The New York Times accused him of 30 years of sexually predatory behaviour against actresses and female staff who worked for him, paying many off to keep quiet. Among the famous names who came forward were Heather Graham, Léa Seydoux and Angelina Jolie, who said she’d had a “bad experience” with the filmmaker. Gwyneth Paltrow remembered feeling “petrified” when, aged 22, she’d declined his advances.
Last week, as news of the guilty verdict spread, Rose Mcgowan, one of Weinstein’s first and most vocal accusers, spoke for his many victims when she said, “Today is a powerful day and a huge step forward in our collective healing.” ■