Weinstein would prefer it if I were dead ..I ought to be afraid but I’m not
Rose McGowan on battle for justice
WHEN she spoke out about her alleged rape at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, Rose McGowan believed she had faced the toughest moment of her life.
But as I sit feet away from the Hollywood actress who sparked a worldwide movement against sexual abuse she shoots me a look which makes clear her battle is only just beginning.
In an exclusive interview she describes that battle as being one for justice – not just for her but for other women she fears have suffered at the hands of a man she calls a monster.
“Things are changing,” Rose says. “But there’s still so much to do. It’s about changing people’s lives. I saw this flower all bent growing through sidewalk cracks and I thought ‘That’s what we all are. We are bent but not broken’. Now I want to get to the light.”
Since making her allegations Rose claims she has been followed, intimidated and even believes her computer may have been hacked in a bid to find infor- mation to counter her claims. She said: “I’m sure he would prefer it if I were dead. He’s a sociopath. I am not afraid – but I should be.
“The people I find worse than him are his lawyers. The way they are acting has been disgusting.
“The people around him, that have supported him in his attempt to dominate and abuse women are monsters, just as much as he is.
SPY
“There is no rehabilitation for that type of soul. They just need to fall off the planet. He doesn’t believe he has done anything wrong..”
Calm and collected, Rose says she will be taking further action against the disgraced movie boss whom she believes has employed an Israeli spy company to intimidate and harass her. “What they did by hiring a spy
company to come after me, it was incredibly violating,” she explains. “It was violation on top of violation. I believe they hacked my computer, released photos – they have done everything they can to ruin my life.”
The actress, whose new book is called Brave, insists it will only make her stronger.
In October, Rose, 44, broke her silence about the moment she claims Weinstein stripped off her clothes, forced her into a Jacuzzi and sexually assaulted her.
Within weeks more than 50 women – including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale, Cara Delevinge and Uma Thurman – came forward with allegations ranging from rape to sexual harassment. Rose shot to fame in a string of lead roles in films such as The Doom Generation, Scream, Jawbreaker and Planet Terror. But after the alleged violation by Weinstein, she says managers and friends ignored her cries. At her lowest point, with money she says Weinstein tried to silence her with, she planned to buy a billboard on Sunset Boulevard that said: “Harvey Weinstein is a rapist”. Weinstein, 65, denies non-consensual sex and blames his conduct to coming of age “in the ’60s and ’70s, when all of the rules were different.” Incredibly Rose believes her tragic past has only given her more strength to fight against wrongdoing and create hope with her social justice platform #ROSEARMY. She says she will overcome a court battle on Wednesday against a charge of cocaine possesion – which her lawyers say may have been planted by private investigators hired by Weinstein. Writing her brilliant book Brave “drove her to the brink” but Rose adds: “It has been cathartic and I feel a lot stronger, strong enough to help others. That is what’s important.”
I have suffered violation on top of violation – they have done everything to ruin me ROSE MCGOWAN SPEAKING TO SUNDAY MIRROR