Horrifying...Dame Judi slams Weinstein over sex pest claims
DAME Judi Dench yesterday slammed Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein after he was sensationally sacked in the wake of a string of sexual harassment claims.
The legendary actress, who once had a fake tattoo praising Weinstein on her bottom, condemned the US producer, despite admitting he had boosted her career.
Dame Judi, 82, joined fellow acting superstar Meryl Streep in attacking Weinstein last night.
The statements came hours after The Weinstein Company’s board of directors announced Weinstein had been sacked with immediate effect from the firm he founded “in light of new information about misconduct”.
The Hollywood studio had launched an inquiry into a raft of allegations of sexual harassment against the Academy Award-winning producer from numerous women.
Dame Judi said: “While there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying.
“I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.”
The Oscar winner has enjoyed a long collaborative relationship with Weinstein since his former studio, Miramax, distributed her hit 1997 movie Mrs Brown.
In 2011, Dame Judi revealed she had a fake tattoo dedicated to Weinstein on her backside after he made her a Hollywood star.
She said at the time: “It was thanks to Harvey, whose name I have had tattooed on my bum ever since.”
Multiple Oscar winner Streep, 68, who reportedly once called Weinstein “God”, also attacked her former friend, describing the women who had made complaints as “heroes”.
She called the producer “disgraceful” and “inexcusable” and said she had not known he had been engaged in “inappropriate, coercive acts”.
Weinstein himself, who was co-chairman of the studio, had previously announced he was taking a leave of absence after claims were made by numerous women with whom he had worked. According to reports, these include 1997’s Kiss The Girls star Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, who appeared in Nineties horror hit Scream.
The producer recently issued an apology, saying he appreciated the way he had behaved with colleagues in the past “has caused a lot of pain” and that he realised he “needed to be a better person”.
Weinstein married his British wife, Marlborough Collegeeducated Georgina Chapman, 41, co-founder of high-end fashion label Marchesa, in 2007.
He was made an honorary CBE by the Queen in 2004 for his contribution to the British film industry.
But there are now calls honour to be removed. for the