Weinstein lawyer tries to redeem herself with fashion crusade

AN AMERICAN lawyer spearheading the crusade against sexual harassment sparked by the downfall of Harvey Weinstein believes the fashion industry could be the last bastion of unacceptable behaviour.

Lisa Bloom, the daughter of civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred, has spent three decades defending abused women and taking on titans of industry and showbusiness – representing women who accused Bill Cosby, Bill O’reilly and Donald Trump.

She shocked many, however, by agreeing to represent Weinstein when the allegations against him first surfaced, before dropping him and saying she regretted her decision. On Friday she appeared on The View, a US chat show, and admitted that a deal she had made with him to turn her book on the Trayvon Martin case into a documentary clouded her judgement. “I very much regret ever being involved in this,” she said. “I’m mortified that I was connected with him. All the people who have reached out to me to say, ‘Lisa, we’re hurt and disappointed in you.’ I get it. And I’m very, very sorry.”

Since then, she has tried to refocus attention on her work with victims.

Ms Bloom, 56, tweeted at the beginning of this month: “My office is deluged with sexual harassment/assault claims. Victims are rising. Keep it up. So overdue, so powerful.”

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, she said that fashion may be the slowest realm to reform. “A lot of it is about objectifying people. People have their heads in the sand.” Exploitation, she said, is rife.

Ms Bloom represents Janice Dickinson, the model who accused Bill Cosby, the comedian, of drugging and raping her in 1982. She is currently fighting to be able to sue Cosby for defamation, after he accused her of being a liar.

She is also in talks with a male model who plans to tell his story of harassment and abuse in the coming weeks.

Ms Bloom believes that this is a watershed moment. “We’ve reached a critical point,” she said. “It’s like a dam has burst, and victims are finally unafraid to speak their truth. It’s a big moment in time. And there is strength in numbers. Everyone who comes forward is standing on the shoulders of those who went before them.”

Many feel her work has now been tarred by her work with Weinstein. “I have to be very careful about what I say of my time working for Harvey Weinstein,” she said. “I can say, as it’s a matter of public record and he has publicly stated this, that I was acting as an adviser to help him change his response.”

She is unable to represent any Weinstein accusers – of whom there are now more than 100 – but is assisting other men and women who have fallen victim to sexual harassment and assault.

She also represents four women who have accused Donald Trump of harassment. The president has denied all the allegations.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if more came forward,” she said.