Scope of Weinstein scandal widens
Scrutiny follows contention mogul’s conduct was ‘open secret’
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 is alleged to have taken place.
A key and potentially volatile component of New Yorker expose was the claim that “a culture of complicity” has existed at both The Weinstein Co. and his previous film company, the Walt Disney-owned Miramax. “Numerous people throughout the companies (were) fully aware of his behavior but either abetting it or looking the other way,” the magazine reported.
Further scrutiny has followed the contention that Weinstein’s conduct was “an open secret” in Hollywood.
Focus has turned, in part, to not just the workplace environments Weinstein operated in, but the stars who may have had some knowledge of Weinstein’s alleged behavior but who failed to raise any alarms.
Ben 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.
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.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also announced Wednesday that its Board of Governors will hold a special meeting Saturday to discuss the allegations “and any actions warranted by the academy.”
Weinstein has long been a major figure at the Academy Awards, where his films have regularly won Oscars, including five best picture winners. Weinstein personally shared in the best picture Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love.”
The film academy called Weinstein’s alleged conduct “repugnant” and “antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents.”
The ongoing fallout poses potentially severe legal issues for the companies involved. The Weinstein Co., which fired its co-chairman on Sunday, has moved to continue forward with plans to change its name. In a statement Tuesday night, the Weinstein Co. board of directors strongly denied that it knew about Weinstein’s behavior.
Legal experts are skeptical The Weinstein Co. could have been unaware given the volume of allegations.
“Given all the information that’s coming out now, I would find it highly implausible that the board was not aware,” said Angela Reddock-wright, an attorney specializing in employment and labor law who has represented businesses in harassment suits.
Veteran employment attorney Ann Fromholz said that given Weinstein’s position at the company, The Weinstein Co. would be liable over sexual harassment claims even if they weren’t aware. Between the potential lawsuits and the likely loss of business, Fromholz considers it unlikely The Weinstein Co. will survive under any name.