Harvey Weinstein, a former film producer, is going to his second trial, held in Los
Angeles, in October for sexual rape and assault. There are 5 alleged victims in this
case.
Weinstein started Miramax, a film-producing company, with his brother Bob Weinstein in
1979. He’d founded Talk magazine with Tina Brown and was kown to hang out with
politicians in his free time. However, behind the scenes, things were not so merry.
In the year 2000, Harvey Weinstein was at a birthday party at Roseland Ballroom. The
comedian for the occasion, Nathan Lane, had written jokes that Weinstein did not want
to be said.
In response, Weinstein threatened, “I’ll ruin your career,” while Lane retorted that he
didn’t even have a film career. Later, on stage, Lane said, “I’m going to do all the jokes
Harvey Weinstein wanted me to cut.”
However, restricting jokes was not the worst Weinstein had done. In 2017, over a dozen
women accused him of sexual abuse and assault over the previous 30 years.
Eventually, over 80 women accused Weinstein of sexual abuse. Following these
incidents, Weinstein was rightfully expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, the Weinstein Company, and other associations.
This led to a criminal investigation, where Weinstein was arrested for rape as well as
other offenses. In February of 2020, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for
multiple charges of third-degree rape and criminal sexual act. He has pleaded not guilty
to his actions.
Ken Auletta, a critic for the New York Times, claims that Weinstein “reached for her
[Ambra Battilana Gutierrez] breasts like he was at an all-you-can-eat buffet.” Auletta
says that like many other women, Gutierrez was scared of Weinstein’s power and
influence.
Even Harvey Weinstein’s own brother, Bob Weinstein, has shown signs of hatred
toward his brother’s behavior. Bob wrote in an email he sent to Harvey, “I pray there is a
real hell. That’s where u belong.”
The entire scandal has encouraged more women to speak out against their experiences
of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. The hashtag
#MeToo
, which was originally
founded by organizer Tarana Burke, was used on social media to deliver these
messages. This effect is called the “Weinstein Effect.”
Quotes:
“I’ll ruin your career,” – Harvey Weinstein
“I’m going to do all the jokes Harvey Weinstein wanted me to cut.” – Nathan Lane
“He reached for her breasts like he was at an all-you-can-eat buffet,” Ken Auletta
“Trials are not movies, shot under controlled conditions and subject to revision in the
editing room. They are live productions, dependent on the chemistry of their
participants, and not a little bit of luck.” – Ken Auletta
“I pray there is a real hell. That’s where u belong.” – Bob Weinstein
Additional Facts:
Harvey Weinstein is currently in jail, and his current sentence is 23 years
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty in his 2018 trial
Angeles, in October for sexual rape and assault. There are 5 alleged victims in this
case.
Weinstein started Miramax, a film-producing company, with his brother Bob Weinstein in
1979. He’d founded Talk magazine with Tina Brown and was kown to hang out with
politicians in his free time. However, behind the scenes, things were not so merry.
In the year 2000, Harvey Weinstein was at a birthday party at Roseland Ballroom. The
comedian for the occasion, Nathan Lane, had written jokes that Weinstein did not want
to be said.
In response, Weinstein threatened, “I’ll ruin your career,” while Lane retorted that he
didn’t even have a film career. Later, on stage, Lane said, “I’m going to do all the jokes
Harvey Weinstein wanted me to cut.”
However, restricting jokes was not the worst Weinstein had done. In 2017, over a dozen
women accused him of sexual abuse and assault over the previous 30 years.
Eventually, over 80 women accused Weinstein of sexual abuse. Following these
incidents, Weinstein was rightfully expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, the Weinstein Company, and other associations.
This led to a criminal investigation, where Weinstein was arrested for rape as well as
other offenses. In February of 2020, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for
multiple charges of third-degree rape and criminal sexual act. He has pleaded not guilty
to his actions.
Ken Auletta, a critic for the New York Times, claims that Weinstein “reached for her
[Ambra Battilana Gutierrez] breasts like he was at an all-you-can-eat buffet.” Auletta
says that like many other women, Gutierrez was scared of Weinstein’s power and
influence.
Even Harvey Weinstein’s own brother, Bob Weinstein, has shown signs of hatred
toward his brother’s behavior. Bob wrote in an email he sent to Harvey, “I pray there is a
real hell. That’s where u belong.”
The entire scandal has encouraged more women to speak out against their experiences
of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. The hashtag
#MeToo
, which was originally
founded by organizer Tarana Burke, was used on social media to deliver these
messages. This effect is called the “Weinstein Effect.”
Quotes:
“I’ll ruin your career,” – Harvey Weinstein
“I’m going to do all the jokes Harvey Weinstein wanted me to cut.” – Nathan Lane
“He reached for her breasts like he was at an all-you-can-eat buffet,” Ken Auletta
“Trials are not movies, shot under controlled conditions and subject to revision in the
editing room. They are live productions, dependent on the chemistry of their
participants, and not a little bit of luck.” – Ken Auletta
“I pray there is a real hell. That’s where u belong.” – Bob Weinstein
Additional Facts:
Harvey Weinstein is currently in jail, and his current sentence is 23 years
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty in his 2018 trial
