Police launch probe into Weinstein while McGowan hits out at Amazon boss
BRITISH and US police are investigating sexual assault allegations involving the film producer Harvey Weinstein – as an executive at Amazon was drawn into the scandal.
The movie mogul is facing a litany of accusations of sexual harassment and assault from some of film’s biggest stars.
Scotland Yard also said detectives from a child abuse and sexual offences unit will be looking into an alleged sexual assault in the London area in the 1980s.
No more details have been released as to the nature of the allegation made against the film producer, while New York Police Department has also opened a separate investigation into the 65-year-old. It said it will conduct a review to determine if there are additional complaints and has encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Meanwhile, Rose McGowan – one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment – tweeted: “HW raped me”.
The 44-year-old actress made a series of claims in several tweets to Amazon chief executive and founder Jeff Bezos.
She wrote: “I told the head of your studio that HW raped me. Over & over I said it. He said it hadn’t been proven. I said I was the proof.”
The actress also claimed the studio had won a “dirty Oscar” and added: “I love @amazon but there is rot in Hollywood.”
Weinstein’s spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister said: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.”
Amazon said studio head Roy Price had been put on leave of absence “effective immediately” and said it was “reviewing our options for the projects we have with The Weinstein Co”.
Three women had previously accused Weinstein of rape in an article in the New Yorker, claims he denies.
It follows accusations from stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevingne.
Actress Sophie Dix, who once starred alongside Colin Firth, claimed Weinstein had pinned her down in a hotel room when she was 22.
She told The Guardian: “Before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, ‘No, no, no’. But he was really forceful.”
The actress said the incident happened in London’s Savoy hotel in 1990 and called it “the single most damaging thing that’s happened in my life”.
Actress Emma Thompson labelled Weinstein a “predator” as she compared sexual allegations around the film producer to the Jimmy Savile scandal.
The two-time Oscar winner said the movie mogul was at the top of a ladder of “harassment and belittling”.
British actress Sienna Miller has said she was never subjected to sexual harassment or advances by Harvey Weinstein but that she stands “in absolute solidarity with those who were”.
Writing on Instagram, Miller said: “Having worked many times with the Weinstein Company, I feel compelled to comment on the horrendous allegations that have come to light over the past few days.
“Emma Thompson put it perfectly when she said: ‘What we need to start talking about is the crisis in masculinity, extreme masculinity, which is this sort of behaviour, and the fact that it is not only ok, but is also represented by the most powerful man in the world right now’.”
Penelope Cruz and Gal Gadot also spoke out over the allegations facing Weinstein yesterday, with Cruz saying she “didn’t know that side” of the producer.
She wrote on Instagram: “The stories that came out over the last few days about Harvey Weinstein have left me feeling extremely sad and shocked.
“Obviously I didn’t know that side of him. We have worked together on different films and even if he has been respectful to me and I personally have never witnessed such behaviour, I need to express my support to the women that have had such horrible experiences.
“They have shown great bravery by talking. That kind of abuse of power is absolutely unacceptable. We all, women and men, need to teach future generations about the power of respect and support for one another.”
Gadot posted: “Bullying and sexual harassment is unacceptable! I stand by all the courageous women confronting their fears and speaking out.
“Together we stand. We are all united in this time of change.”
Nicole Kidman told young actresses to “make sure you are protected” as she spoke out on allegations of sexual assault facing Harvey Weinstein.
The Australian actress followed up a statement applauding those accusing the movie mogul of harassment and assault by urging women to stay strong.
She told Magic Radio: “Particularly for a young girl, it’s ‘take care of yourself, make sure you are protected, don’t let anyone break your spirit and be yourself’.” On Weinstein, she added: “I’ve been working now for well over two decades for UN Women to eradicate violence against women, this is very important right now – we cannot tolerate this behaviour.”
The film producer denies any allegations of non-consensual sex as he faces a litany of rape, harassment and assault accusations from a number of women.
Tom Hanks hit out at Weinstein’s initial apology in which he claimed his conduct was a result of growing up in the ’60s and ’70s.
The Forrest Gump actor told the New York Times: “Well, that’s a really
good question, and isn’t it part and parcel to all of society somehow, that people in power get away with this?”
He added: “Look, I don’t want to rag on Harvey but so obviously something went down there. You can’t buy: ‘Oh, well, I grew up in the ’60s and ’70s and so therefore...’
“I did, too. So I think it’s like, well, what do you want from this position of power? I know all kinds of people that just love hitting on, or making the lives of underlings some degree of miserable, because they can.”
Weinstein told reporters this week “I’m not doing OK” but “we all make mistakes” as he was filmed on camera for the first time since the scandal broke.
Dressed in a black t-shirt and scruffy jeans, Weinstein was seen leaving his daughter’s house in Los Angeles.
Asked how he was, the producer told TMZ: “I’m trying my best... I’m not doing OK but I’m trying.”
He added: “I gotta get help. You know what, we all make mistakes... A second chance, I hope.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Oscars, described the sexual abuse allegations against Weinstein as “repugnant” and “abhorrent”, and said it would meet today to discuss any action to be taken.
US banking giant Goldman Sachs has confirmed it is “exploring options” for its near $1m (£752,000) stake in the Weinstein Company amid growing allegations of sexual assault by film producer Harvey Weinstein.
Bafta has suspended his membership.