Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is again drawing attention after making a series of claims about the women who accused him of sexual misconduct during a jailhouse interview conducted at Rikers Island, as reported by The New York Post.
Weinstein, 73, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in an interview conducted in January and published Tuesday.
During the discussion, the convicted sex offender argued that he was the one who had been wronged and claimed that several of the women who accused him of misconduct exaggerated their allegations.
#BREAKING: Ex-media mogul Harvey Weinstein has been rushed to the hospital after his New York rape conviction was overturned
There is no word as to exactly why, or what his condition is. This comes just as he was transferred back to the New York City Jails, where Epstein met… pic.twitter.com/AKrqKUNhY7 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 27, 2024
Weinstein specifically named several prominent actresses who previously came forward with accusations against him.
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“If the camera’s on, I’m just going to say Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie — they just exaggerated,” Weinstein claimed in the interview.
He went further, arguing that the actresses who spoke publicly about their experiences with him did so intentionally.
“They wanted to be victims. They wanted to be part of the club. And they destroyed me,” Weinstein claimed about the major stars who have all come forward with accusations against him.
The interview, conducted by The Hollywood Reporter’s Maer Roshan, included exchanges in which the former film executive acknowledged making advances toward women but disputed claims that he committed assault.
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Weinstein admitted that he sometimes pursued women aggressively while they were seeking professional opportunities in the film industry.
The once-powerful producer said he could be “pushy or overly seductive,” but suggested that the women he interacted with should have understood the circumstances of their meetings.
“I will say, though, when a guy invites you to his hotel room in the middle of the night, you know what’s on the agenda,” he said.
Harvey Weinstein uses same tired victim-blaming excuse, boldly claims accusers ‘wanted to be part of the club’ "They wanted to be victims. They wanted to be part of the club. And they destroyed me," Weinstein shamelessly claimed of his accusers. https://t.co/0OquYcx3wU pic.twitter.com/LjbE58uAIF
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Several of Weinstein’s accusers have previously alleged that he pressured women to meet him in hotel rooms rather than in professional office settings when they were seeking acting roles.
During the interview, Roshan challenged Weinstein on the implication that women who met with him should have expected inappropriate behavior.
“Are you saying that everyone who went to meet with you knew they’d end up being groped and chased around the room?” Roshan asked.
Weinstein rejected that characterization while continuing to argue that some of the women involved were aware of the situation when they agreed to meet him.
“Not at all. I had lots of people come see me,” Weinstein said.
“But there were some women who knew exactly what was expected. Maybe they felt bad later, or they regretted it. Maybe they saw an opportunity for a payout. But not all of them were as naive as they liked to pretend.”
Weinstein has consistently denied committing sexual assault. His legal battles have stretched across multiple years and jurisdictions as accusations from numerous women surfaced beginning in 2017.
Last June, Weinstein was convicted of forcing oral sex on one woman. In the same trial, he was acquitted of a separate charge alleging that he forcibly performed oral sex on another woman.
Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision on a rape charge, leaving that count unresolved.
The interview also included Weinstein’s complaints about conditions at Rikers Island, the New York City jail complex where he has been held while his legal cases continue.
Weinstein’s fall from power followed decades as one of the most influential figures in the film industry.
Once an Oscar-winning producer and co-founder of Miramax, Weinstein helped produce or distribute numerous award-winning films before allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple actresses and industry workers became public.
Those allegations triggered criminal investigations and a series of civil lawsuits, ultimately leading to criminal trials and convictions.
Despite the convictions and the numerous accusations that surfaced over the years, Weinstein continues to dispute claims that he committed sexual assault, maintaining that the encounters described by some accusers were either exaggerated or misunderstood.
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