Weinstein encounter inspired Oscars joke
Actress Jessica Barth — whose alleged encounter with Harvey Weinstein inspired a joke by Seth MacFarlane at the 2013 Oscars nominations ceremony — reiterated her story that the disgraced filmmaker made an unwanted sexual advance toward her in a hotel room years earlier.
The actress, who stars in “Ted” and its sequel, detailed what allegedly ensued in 2011 after Weinstein — who has been accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment by numerous women in the past week — requested she join him in his room at the Peninsula Hotel after the Golden Globes with the promise of discussing film opportunities.
“At first he started talking about career stuff, and how he wanted to fly me to New York and give me a role in Sarah Jessica Parker’s new film,” Barth recalled on CNN’s “New Day” morning show last week. “He alternated between that and asking me to give him a naked massage in the bed.”
She was quick to rebuff the advances of the Miramax cofounder, who she notes was dressed casually in an unbuttoned shirt and baggy pants when she arrived.
In addition to Weinstein asking for a massage, he berated Barth with critical comments during that conversation, she said.
“Once he told me if I ever wanted to compete with people like Mila Kunis that I would need to lose 10 pounds, I pretty much had it at that point,” Barth said.
Barth said she covered up tears during the incident and made it clear she wasn’t going to give him what he wanted.
“I was never going to trade sexual favors to advance my career,” she said.
Barth confided in MacFarlane — the creator of “Family Guy” as well as other shows and movies — and two years later, he made a reference to Weinstein’s alleged misconduct as he announced the 2013 supporting actress Oscars nominees.
“Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein,” he joked as he announced the nominees alongside Emma Stone. The remark drew a laugh from the audience.
MacFarlane, who hosted the Oscars that year, issued a statement Wednesday condemning Weinstein while applauding Barth for coming forward. Barth first spoke out about Weinstein in a recent expose published by The New Yorker.
The “Family Guy” creator also revealed that his conversation with Barth was what prompted his joke at the Oscars.
— Associated Press