Weinstein and Hollywood star Ashley Judd lark about on set – four years after she says he sexually harassed her
IT’S the photograph that disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein believes will clear his name.
The newly discovered snap from 2001 shows him laughing and joking with actress Ashley Judd – four years after she claims he sexually harassed her.
Ms Judd alleged that Weinstein harassed her in a Los Angeles hotel room in 1997 and went on to ‘destroy’ her career when she rebuffed his advances.
The picture comes from a former executive at Weinstein’s Miramax empire who is ‘frustrated’ by the way his old boss has been portrayed in the wake of allegations against him.
The picture – taken on the set of the 2002 movie Frida – emerged along with lists of actresses’ names, including that of Ms Judd, being considered for Miramax films in 1997 and 1998.
A source said: ‘This picture and the fact that Ashley was considered for multiple film roles at Miramax in 1997 and 1998 proves that she and Harvey enjoyed a good working relationship long after she claims the alleged incident occurred.
‘Harvey is hopeful this photo will help clear his name.’
It is also claimed that Ms Judd wrote a letter to Weinstein in 1997 after the alleged incident. The source said: ‘She wrote asking him to work with her on a movie called Bedlam. It’s absurd she says she was terrified of Harvey.’
The source added that Weinstein cast Ms Judd in a 2009 film Crossing Over opposite Harrison Ford, saying: ‘It’s rubbish to suggest he blacklisted her. He put her in a film 12 years after this incident supposedly took place. They were friends.’
A lawyer for Ms Judd said: ‘Weinstein’s sexual harassment will be proven in court.’
Ms Judd, 50, was one of the first women to speak out against Weinstein and was at the forefront of the #MeToo movement which has led to sexual misconduct claims against a string of stars.
She filed a civil suit against the producer, claiming he invited her to his room in late 1996 or early 1997 when she was young and naive and was celebrating the success of her first starring role, in the thriller Kiss The Girls. The actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and asked her to watch him take a shower. She refused. Ms Judd claims her rejection of Weinstein led to her being blackballed in Hollywood and she is suing Weinstein for lost earnings. His list of accusers now exceeds 80. He faces criminal sex charges in New York and is under criminal investigation in both Los Angeles and London. An unnamed actress last week filed a lawsuit in which she claims the producer repeatedly sexually assaulted her after a meeting in his office in 2013. When she rejected him, Weinstein is alleged to have claimed: ‘I slept with Jennifer Lawrence and look where she is – she has just won an Oscar.’ Ms Lawrence furiously denied the pair had ever had sex. Weinstein denies all accusations against him.