Casting couch mogul, Harvey Weinstein accused of sexual harassment

08 October 2017 - 00:00 By The Daily Telegraph and London

Harvey Weinstein says his British fashion designer wife is standing by him "100%" and "will be kicking my ass to be a better human being", after he was accused of decades of sexual harassment.
Georgina Chapman, the 41-year-old founder of the Marchesa label, married Weinstein, 65, in 2007 and the pair have two children. She declined to comment after the New York Times detailed allegations against the Hollywood movie mogul.
Weinstein told the New York Post: "She stands 100% behind me. Georgina and I have talked about this at length. Georgina will be kicking my ass to be a better human being and to apologise to people for my bad behaviour; to say 'I'm sorry,' and to absolutely mean it."
Bikini screen test
The New York Times published a litany of allegations about behaviour that had been going on for decades, including that Weinstein appeared naked before his staff in hotel rooms and asked them for massages and that they watch him take a shower.
Actresses Ashley Judd (Divergent) and Rose McGowan (who played a witch in the TV series Charmed) were among those who accused the film-studio executive of inappropriate behaviour.
Jessica Hynes, who stars in the BBC comedy series W1A, claimed this week that she lost a role after refusing to wear a bikini.
"I was offered a film role at 19. Harvey Weinstein came on board and wanted me to screen test in a bikini. I refused & lost the job," she tweeted, adding: "I'm sure there are many more ..."
As Weinstein faced being ostracised in Hollywood, he also looked set to become a political pariah.
A high-profile supporter of the Democratic Party, the mogul has given an estimated $1.4-million (R19-million) to candidates and campaigns since 1990. That included $25,000 to Hillary Clinton and a five-figure sum to former president Barack Obama.
At least four Democrat senators, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who received $5,000 for her 2012 political campaign, said they were now giving the donations to charity.
Despite apologising for "bad behaviour", Weinstein is now threatening to sue the New York Times for $50-million. He has hired Charles Harder, the Los Angeles lawyer who forced the closure of gossip website Gawker after winning a $140-million verdict for wrestler and actor Hulk Hogan when the site posted a sex tape...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.