Hayek describes Weinstein ‘nightmare’
NEW YORK: In one of the most vivid accounts yet of Harvey Weinstein’s alleged abuse and harassment, Salma Hayek says the disgraced movie mogul turned the making of her 2002 passion project, the Frida Kahlo biopic Frida, into a nightmare after the actress refused Weinstein’s relentless advances.
‘‘For years, he was my monster,’’ Hayek wrote in an oped published by The New York
Times.
Her refusals — of massages, showers and sex — enraged him, she wrote.
‘‘I don’t think he hated anything more than the word ‘no’.’’
Hayek, who regularly starred in films released by Weinstein’s Miramax in the 1990s, credited Weinstein with helping her start her career. But she said the movie mogul would turn up at her door ‘‘at all hours of the night, hotel after hotel, location after location’’.
When Hayek brought Frida, which she was producing, to Miramax to distribute, Weinstein made outrageous demands as payback. Hayek said he insisted on rewrites, more financing and, most heinously to her, a sex scene with full frontal nudity. He even threatened to kill her, she said.
In order to finish what was a labour of love for Hayek, she agreed. But she said she had a nervous breakdown while shooting the scene.
‘‘My body wouldn’t stop crying and convulsing,’’ wrote Hayek.
‘‘It was not because I would be naked with another woman.
‘‘It was because I would be naked with her for Harvey Weinstein.’’
Even still, Weinstein refused to give the movie a theatrical release. He eventually relented after pressure from director Julie Taymor and Hayek. It went on to gross $US56.3 million ($NZ80.3 million) worldwide and land six Oscar nominations, winning two.
Dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, and numerous women have said he raped them. Weinstein, who is under investigation for sexual assault in four cities, has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. — AP jcc