Weinstein Co opens probe over harassment

THE Weinstein Company has launched an internal probe over sexual harassment claims against Co-Chairman HarveyWeinstein, confirming he has taken an “indefinite” leave of absence.

Revelations that the Hollywood mogul sexually harassed women for nearly three decades prompted three of the company’s nine board members to resign, according to the NewYork Times, which broke the news in a bombshell report earlier last week.

“We strongly endorse Harvey Weinstein’s already-announced decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from the company, commencing today,” said a statement signed Friday by four board members: Bob Weinstein, Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Richard Koenigsberg.

“As Harvey has said . . . it is important for him to get professional help for the problems he has acknowledged.

“Next steps will depend on Harvey’s therapeutic progress, the outcome of the board’s independent investigation and Harvey’s own personal decisions.”

Weinstein Company officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lisa Bloom, one of Weinstein’s lawyers who specialises in sexual harassment cases, said Thursday that her 65-year-old client “denies many of the accusations as patently false”.

“He has acknowledged mistakes he has made,” she wrote. “He is reading books and going to therapy. He is an old dinosaur learning new ways.”

His accusers, the Times said, were mainly young women hoping to break into the film industry and include celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.