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A SCANDAL INVOLVING Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has dominated the entertainment news world over the past week.
Last Thursday, The New York Times published an investigation into years’ worth of assault allegations against Weinstein by a number of women.
Weinstein was fired from his own company at the weekend and since then, new information and fresh assault allegations have flooded news outlets as more women began to come forth and open up about their experiences with Weinstein too.
Here’s a timeline of how Weinstein’s reputation has plummeted over the course of the past seven days:
An investigation – Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades – was published by The New York Times.
The report accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and abuse, through interviews with Weinstein’s former and current employees, legal records and emails.
According to the Times, Weinstein’s allegedly inappropriate behaviour goes back nearly three decades and he has reached private settlements with at least eight women.
His accusers, the Times said, include celebrities such as actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.
Judd recalled being invited to Weinstein’s suite at a posh Beverly Hills hotel two decades ago expecting a breakfast meeting to discuss business. Instead, the actress said, Weinstein appeared in a bathrobe and asked if she could give him a massage or watch him shower.
Two former assistants and an Italian model made similar accusations and allegedly reached settlements.
Following the release of the report, Weinstein shared a statement to The New York Times:
I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the allegations.
He said that he was unsurprised by the revelations that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed women for nearly three decades.
“I’ve known Harvey Weinstein for a very long time, I’m not at all surprised to see it,” he told reporters outside the White House.
The following day, The Weinstein Company announced Weinstein’s termination from the organisation as CEO effective immediately.
In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company… have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately
Meanwhile, many A-list stars came forward to condemn the film producer, with Meryl Streep and Judi Dench leading the chorus of outrage.
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.
Fellow Oscar winner Judi Dench 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”.
Speaking to The New York Times, actress Glenn Close acknowledged that “for many years” she had been aware of rumours of inappropriate behaviour by Weinstein.
As of Monday evening, five of The Weinstein Company’s nine all-male board members had resigned over the scandal.
The New Yorker reported that Weinstein has previously raped three women – a representative from Weinstein denied the allegations.
Reporting for The New Yorker, journalist Ronan Farrow spent 10 months interviewing 13 women who reported they were harassed or assaulted by Weinstein.
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
The New York Times, as well as various entertainment media, reported that Weinstein’s harassment victims also included Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Rosanna Arquette and French actress Judith Godreche.
Angelina Jolie told The New York Times:
“I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did. This behaviour towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.”
Hillary Clinton released a statement on Twitter and said:
I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behaviour.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said they were “disgusted”.
The wife of Weinstein announced that she is leaving him over the string of rape and sexual harassment allegations against him.
Georgina Chapman, who married the film producer in 2007, told People Magazine that her “heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions”.
On this afternoon’s RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline, actress Fionnuala Flanagan spoke about the allegations, describing him as “a creep”.
“He was sort of repulsive in his behaviour towards women and that was well known. He never made advances towards me,” Flanagan said.
It was an open secret. Just having a big name doesn’t safeguard you.
“He was notorious for breaking business deals, which indeed he did with me.”
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Tip of the iceberg, I would say. There was a rape culture in Hollywood.
@James Bishop: not according to some of the commentors on here. Apparently women were just furthering their careers in prostituting themselves.. And though they may have been coerced with the threat of losing their livelihood and he did abuse his power, they could have said no. Apparently it’s not real abuse if the woman submitted to sexual advances that she did not want by a person with enough power to make sure she never worked again if he so chose. No that’s just not abusive enough for the lads on here.
@Dell: Hard to say keep saying no when you are cornered by a 120kg, 6 foot plus man who holds the power to ruin you professionally in the palm of his hand.
And in that audio clip all that woman says is no, again and again. Repeatedly. Harrowing stuff.
@David Hickey: I completely agree and there is also the fact that no matter what kind of rumours or whatever, you really do not expect someone to behave like that.
@James Bishop: still is especially against young boys girls
@dangermouse: in our own country most people knew that girls who were sent to the laundry were going to a life of hell… politicians, doctors, priests, teachers.. No one spoke up, why do you think that was? Yes, it would have been better for others if these people had felt they could speak up but why are we pointing fingers at them, instead of at the person who was committing the abuse?,
@Dell: this was in response to danger mouses comment that seems to have disappeared
@Dell: is that why the journal.ie deleted my comment about the like of streep and Jolie jumping on the bandwagon. Why didn’t “these powerful” speak up sooner and allow women to run a gauntlet of sexual abuse by a Hollywood director .they sat back an enjoyed the trappings of Hollywood
@dangermouse: why didn’t the men in Hollywood speak up, if it was common knowledge? Also apparently Jolie did warn others over the years and refused to work with him afterwards.
@Dell: I believe 1 man came forward too say he was inappropriately touch my a male studio director
@dangermouse: yes I saw that today. I believe he said that he completely understands why women have not spoken up until now because he himself felt he couldn’t speak up until now. And at that, he did not name the person he was talking about. I think that there are some incredibly powerful, intimidating people in Hollywood and that those in ther sphere were led to believe they are even more powerful than they are so as to keep everyone quiet about their misconduct and abuse.
@dangermouse: and the journal have hidden that article over in the entertainment section, Terry Crews expresses himself very well and quite eloquently explains why he felt unable to come forward about the incident before now. Will he be subjected to the same criticism that the female victims are receiving for not singlehandedly putting an end to the endemic sexual misconduct in Hollywood? Let’s hope not, nobody deserves that kind of verbal abuse and characters assassination on top of the actual sexual abuse they’ve already suffered.
@dangermouse: The problem with your comment is that the people you are speaking about were not powerful, they may be more powerful now, but even now that are not as powerful as a studio heads or high ranking producers, directors, executives, etc. Have you ever tried standing up to someone who was being (sexually) inappropriate in the work place? I have. It’s an extremely daunting task. And when you’re dependent on the job it’s a very difficult decision and position to be put in. And all because someone decides they don’t have to behave in a respectful manner towards all employees.
@Dell: sadly women are suffering this crap every day. Not always something explicit as rape but certainly as explicit as a man grabbing them when their alone and when even telling them to leave them alone or literally to F off. Still women won’t make a “fuss” because they won’t be believed or making too much of something.
Even the wife must have known
@Minom Pnom: how? Was she there? Clooney worked with him for 20 years! Brad Pitt was with two women who he attempted to assault. Is he guilty or his wife who has 3 young children? Who is guilty? Harvey or every one else? No doubt there was a blind eye there and those that did owe it to the women he abused. But make no mistake. It was him that abused those women.
@Deborah Behan: those that heard the rumours and rejected them and those that didn’t help won’t be feeling great today but when someone has so much power over your career I wonder would you do the right thing? It’s so much easier to turn a blind eye no matter who you are. That’s what needs to be tackled.
@Deborah Behan: I’ve no idea what point your ramble is trying to convey.
Comments which criticise a certain actor being removed?!
Mamma Mia!
He’s not the only one I’d say!!!!
I’m waiting for the Trump comments of deflection lol
Where didn’t the actresses come out earlier. They could have saved a lot of youngsters from trouble. A lot of them are very rich and didn’t had to keep there mouth shut.
@Hans Vos: would you have believed them?
I knew knew none of those Girls had no talent on Screen .
have your say