Weinstein brothers once fought world, then each other

LOS ANGELES — For the Weinsteins, it had always been Bob and Harvey against the world.

In 1979, the twenty-something rock promoters brought their unpolished demeanor, fast-talking style and rough negotiating tactics to the movie business, naming their new film production company after their parents, Miriam and Max.

Together, they built a studio that would redefine independent cinema by drawing upon their complementary skills. Though they became famous for their conference room shouting matches, the brothers from Queens, New York, always managed to put their differences aside when facing common enemies.

But their escalating tensions finally burst into the open this month amid allegations that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted more than 40 women over two decades.

Now, the alleged misconduct threatens to take down everything they’ve built.

Although Bob Weinstein said he took steps in recent years to distance himself from his disgraced brother, their fates may be intertwined. Some people close to the company say it will be difficult for Bob Weinstein to retain a leadership role in the Weinstein Co. — if it survives at all. And the Weinstein name may be forever tainted, making it difficult for him to start fresh in Hollywood.

“The question is going to be ‘Are people going to be willing to work with a company that either of the Weinstein brothers is involved with?” said Joe Pichirallo, a film professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts who competed with the Weinsteins as a Fox Searchlight executive.

The stunning events have cast Bob Weinstein, 63, in an unfamiliar position. After spending decades playing a supporting role to his bombastic brother, he now finds himself in the spotlight as he tries to save the company he co-founded in 2005.

He has publicly condemned his brother’s behavior and called for his ouster from the film academy, even as he himself this past week was accused of sexual harassment by the female showrunner of a series produced by The Weinstein Co. and aired on Spike.

As they challenged each other over business decisions, Bob Weinstein has grown increasingly frustrated with Harvey’s treatment of women. He played a direct role in bringing the Weinstein Co. board of directors’ attention to a 2015 memo from employee Lauren O’Connor that accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment.

Bob insisted Harvey accept terms in his new contract that allowed him to be terminated for misconduct, these people said. That new contract gave the board the authority to terminate him as the allegations multiplied.

Even before the scandal, the Weinstein brothers’ days as indie juggernauts had already long passed.

And now, Harvey Weinstein’s departure leaves the company without its visionary.

“Harvey was the glue that held it together,” Pichirallo said. “It’s hard to see how they’ll go back to that without some miracle happening.”