Lawsuit filed against Weinstein
Fallout continues as degree revoked, film asset sold off
LOS ANGELES — Fallout from sexual harassment and abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein continued Wednesday as the disgraced producer was hit with a new lawsuit, lost an honorary degree and his former company was forced to sell off a major film asset because of the scandal.
Weinstein and his former company were hit Wednesday with a proposed class action lawsuit that targets what it called the producer’s “casting couch” harassment and abuses. The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court by an unnamed aspiring actress who claims Weinstein harassed her in a building occupied by his former company, Miramax, also names The Weinstein Co. as a defendant and accuses its leadership of being complicit in Weinstein’s systematic harassment and abuse of women.
Representatives for Weinstein and the company did not respond to messages Wednesday seeking comment.
The company is reeling from the allegations against its co-founder, and on Wednesday announced it had sold the distribution rights to its biggest upcoming release, “Paddington 2.” Warner Bros. will now release the film, which is based on late author Michael Bond’s famous “Paddington Bear” stories.
“Paddington” producer David Heyman earlier said he intended that the Weinstein Co. name to be “nowhere near” ”Paddington 2,” which was wholly financed by Studiocanal.
Trustees from the State University of New York and the SUNY chancellor on Wednesday revoked the degree granted to Weinstein in 2001. He was an English major at the University at Buffalo from 1969-1973.
In a statement, the University at Buffalo says Weinstein’s alleged conduct is “inconsistent” with the values and policies of the university and “contradicts the spirit of the honorary degree” and “undermines the accomplishments” that were cited to bolster the awarding of the degree.
It is the latest honor lost by Weinstein.
Elsewhere, actor Terry Crews named a talent agency executive he said groped him, likening the experience on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday morning to being a prisoner of war. Crews has filed a police report.