MORE ACTRESSES MAKE WEINSTEIN ALLEGATIONS
NEW YORK — As the grim scope of the allegations surrounding Harvey Weinstein continued to expand Wednesday, the organization that bestows the Academy Awards moved to distance itself from the film mogul, Ben Affleck was forced to defend his own previous actions, and scrutiny fell on who knew what about Weinstein’s behavior over the decades it allegedly took place.
French actress Lea Seydoux said Weinstein once jumped on her and tried to kiss her in a hotel room.
In a first- person essay for The Guardian published Wednesday, Seydoux wrote that “everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything.” The “Blue is the Warmest Color” actress says she would often see Weinstein at events afterward and recalled him bragging about all the women he’s slept with.
Seydoux also said she knows many men in Hollywood like the 65- year- old producer and detailed multiple accounts of directors she’s worked with coming on to her or trying to kiss her. She did not name the directors.
Also, model and actress Cara Delevingne joined the list of Weinstein accusers.
She said in a lengthy Instagram post that Weinstein brought up sexual subjects during more than one busi- ness meeting and also tried to get Delevingne to kiss a woman in front of him.
She said she did not participate and left the room. She says she subsequently appeared in a Weinstein Co. film and added she “felt awful that I did the movie.”
Affleck was called out Tuesday by actress Rose McGowan. In a tweet, McGowan accused Affleck of lying after issuing a statement that he was “saddened and angry” about the Weinstein revelations. McGowan, who The New York Times reported reached a $ 100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, suggested Affleck knew decades ago about Weinstein’s behavior.
Actress Hilarie Burton also renewed an earlier allegation that Affleck groped her during a visit to MTV’s TRL, which she was hosting in 2003. Affleck on Wednesday tweeted an apology: “I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.” In other developments: † The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday its board will hold a special meeting Saturday to discuss the Weinstein allegations “and any actions warranted by the Academy.”
† The University at Buffalo is moving to revoke the honorary degree of Weinstein, who was an English major there from 1969- 1973.