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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.
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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