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THE NEW YORKER has reported that Harvey Weinstein has previously raped three women, significantly intensifying the scandal surrounding the Hollywood producer.
A representative for Weinstein vehemently denied the allegations in a statement to the magazine.
The expose, published online today, detailed allegations not just of sexual harassment but of three incidents involving rape.
Actress Asia Argento and a former aspiring actress named Lucia Evans went on the record to allege Weinstein forced himself on them sexually. A third woman spoke anonymously.
https://twitter.com/NewYorker/status/917765408412794880
‘Unequivocally denied’
Attorneys for Weinstein did not immediately return messages today. The New Yorker quoted Weinstein representative Sallie Hofmeister responding that “any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein”.
The story, written by Ronan Farrow, revealed that thirteen women have said Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them between 1990 and 2015.
The incidents described range from unwanted groping to forced sex. Some of those incidents overlap with the eight allegations of sexual harassment previously reported by The New York Times, all of which resulted in financial settlements.
But they also go much further. In the article, Patricia Arquette and Mira Sorvino are among those who claim Weinstein sexually harassed them.
Representatives for the actresses did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
The New Yorker also reported that 16 former and current executives and assistants at The Weinstein Co and Miramax either witnessed or knew of Weinstein’s unwanted sexual advances.
All sixteen said the behavior was widely known within both Miramax and the Weinstein Company.
Representatives for The Weinstein Company also haven’t immediately responded to messages.
Backlash from Hollywood
Weinstein was fired on Sunday by the Weinstein Company, the studio he co-founded, three days after a bombshell New York Times expose alleged decades of crude sexual behaviour on his part toward female employees and actresses, including Ashley Judd.
Weinstein responded to the report in a lengthy, rambling statement in which he pleaded for a second chance and apologized for the pain he had caused.
As the firestorm of controversy escalated, a string of entertainment industry figures have spoken out to condemn Weinstein – including actors Seth Rogan, Lena Dunham and Patricia Arquette, director James Gunn and fellow producer Judd Apatow.
Streep – who famously called Weinstein God in an Oscars acceptance speech – broke her silence in a statement first published by the Huffington Post, in which she said she was “appalled” by the “disgraceful” news and insisted “not everybody” knew about the allegations.
“I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters… would have neglected for decades to write about it,” she added.
Fellow Oscar winner Judi Dench, who has credited much of her success to Weinstein and once revealed she had a fake tattoo of his initials applied to her buttocks, said in a statement to Newsweek she was “horrified” and also denied any knowledge of the accusations.
George Clooney also broke his silence and called Weinstein’s behaviour “indefensible”.
Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, have given charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.
Weinstein has not publicly commented since Thursday.
With reporting by AFP
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