Hollywood’s Biggest Actors Have Spoken Out About Harvey Weinstein as Sexual Assault Allegations Mount

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual assault and rape.

The New York Times published an article last week detailing multiple accusations of sexual harassment and assault by Harvey Weinstein, a major Hollywood producer.

Prior to the article's publication, Weinstein was one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, having formed Miramax (which he later sold to Disney) and co-founded The Weinstein Company. He's behind some of the biggest movies of the last four decades, such as Silver Linings Playbook, Pulp Fiction, Lion and Django Unchained. The Hollywood Reporter has said he's been thanked more than God in awards speeches.

The article alleged he had been paying off sexual harassment accusers for decades and that at least eight settlements had been reached with women he'd harassed or assaulted.

Weinstein responded to the article by explaining he came from the '60s and '70s, when things were different. He also explained he would try to be better.

"I've been trying to do this for 10 years and this is a wake-up call," the statement read. "I cannot be more remorseful about the people I hurt and I plan to do right by all of them."

But despite this, countless accusers have come forward accusing Weinstein of rape and sexual assault.

The New Yorker reported on an audio file today of an incident in 2015 where Weinstein appears to admit to sexually assaulting Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez.

In the tape, Gutierrez asked Weinstein why he groped her the day before. Weinstein, while attempting to get her to come inside his hotel room, responded with: "I'm used to that. Come on. Please."

Rose McGowan of Charmed also revealed in the NYT exposé that she had an encounter with Weinstein in a hotel at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. Weinstein offered a $US100,000 settlement so that she wouldn't speak out. Since then, she has been extremely vocal on Twitter, calling out others for allegedly being aware of Weinstein's allegations for years.

This is about a power structure that needs to be brought down. I cannot thank the women who came forward & the boss writers at #NYT enough

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 7, 2017

In the New Yorker piece, Italian actor Asia Argento alleged she was raped by Weinstein 20 years ago, but feared telling her story because of his power in the industry.

"I know he has crushed a lot of people before," Argento said. "The thing with being a victim is I felt responsible."

"Because, if I were a strong woman, I would have kicked him in the balls and run away. But I didn’t. And so I felt responsible."

Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow also both spoke out of their bad experiences with Weinstein.

Jolie told the NYT that she had "a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in [her] youth" and that after that, she refused to work with him again and warned others.

Paltrow also explained to NYT how Weinstein invited her to his hotel room for a massage. Paltrow remembered thinking, "'I thought you were my Uncle Harvey'" before telling her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, who later confronted him about the incident.

A score of other celebrities took to Twitter to speak out against Weinstein in light of the accusations.

Yup yup yup yup. Every day. Even from "good guys" who brag about hiring female directors or producing POC narratives. YUP EVEN THEM.

— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) October 5, 2017

Why is it helpful men speak up? Bc that's what this personality fears most: the disintegration of the tacit male support for this behavior.

— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) October 10, 2017

What Harvey Weinstein did was abhorrent. He admits he did it. Why should anyone be silent in their disgust and support for his victims? https://t.co/fh9TKUp0mA

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) October 8, 2017

The story has even lead Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Terry Crews to share his experience of sexual assault.

This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME. (1/Cont.)

— terrycrews (@terrycrews) October 10, 2017

Jennifer Lawrence has hit out at Weinstein as well after working with him on the 2013 film Silver Linings Playbook, for which she won an Oscar.

"I was deeply disturbed to hear the news about Harvey Weinstein’s behaviour," she told People. "This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting."

Weinstein has since been fired from The Weinstein Company. His wife, Georgina Chapman, has also announced that she will be filing for divorce due to his "unforgivable actions." 

The story is still unfolding and it's likely that more and more people will come forward with their stories. It just shows that while it's slow progress, society is finally punishing the powerful men who could once get away with these actions.

Have you experienced sexual assault or sexual violence? Seeking to support someone who has? Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Photo: Kurt Kulac, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, iDominick