Oscar-winning Hollywood movie exec accused of harassment
Harvey Weinstein is taking a leave from his company after allegations published.
LOS ANGELES — Harvey Weinstein, the largerthan-life Hollywood executive and Academy Award winner, is taking a leave of absence from his own company after an expose revealing decades of sexual harassment against women, from employees to actress Ashley Judd, was published Thursday in The New York Times.
The article includes firstperson accounts of Weinstein’s alleged conduct, including from Judd, who recounts an incident from two decades ago in which she said she was asked to meet Weinstein in his hotel room. Weinstein greeted her wearing a bathrobe and asked her if she would give him a massage or watch him shower, the paper reported.
“Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly,” Judd said.
Two unnamed company officials said at least eight women have received settlements from Weinstein over the years, including actress Rose McGowan, who allegedly had an incident with him in 1997 when she was 23.
Weinstein’s attorney Charles J. Harder said he would sue the Times over astory he said is “saturated with false and defamatory statements.”
“We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish,” Harder said. He did not respond to questions about what specific
allegations Weinstein was contesting.
accuracy“We are of confidentour reporting,”in the said a New York Times spokesperson in a statement. Weinstein,perch in 65, Hollywoodhad a powerful for three decades, and was known for producing films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” for which he won an Oscar. He executed successful Oscar campaigns with his company Miramax, which he ran with his brother Bob Weinstein. He is also an executive producer of the reality series “Project Runway.” In 2005, the Weinstein brothers launched a new production company, The Weinstein Co.
He was also the executive producer of five best picture winners, including “The English Patient,” “Chicago,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “The King’s Speech,” and “The Artist.”
Weinstein has been married to designer Georgina Chapman since 2007, they have two children together. He has three children from his previous marriage.
In 2016, the company didn’t receive a best-picture nomination for the first time since 2008. Weinstein returned to the category with “Lion” at this year’s Oscars, but his preeminence as an Academy Awards heavyweight has undeniably waned.
Money problems have plagued the company intermittently since 2009, when it entered bankruptcy.
But last year, The Weinstein Company continually shuffled release dates and delayed films amid reports that it was too cashstrapped to put a full slate of films into theaters.
About 50 staffers were let go last year.