Everything You Need to Know About the Harvey Weinstein Scandal -- From the Accusations to the Fallout
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- 12 Oct 2020
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As Harvey Weinstein continues to develop every day, with more celebrities condemning the producer's alleged actions or coming out with their own claims of sexual harassment, ET is looking back and breaking down the scandal as it's developed.
From a look at Weinstein's rise to Hollywood power before the scandal broke, to the big-name stars who , to the producer's current sex addition treatment, here's everything you need to know about the massive controversy.
The Hollywood Mogul
Harvey Weinstein has been a powerful and influential Hollywood producer for decades. The media mogul and his brother, Bob Weinstein co-founded the independent film distribution studio Miramax in 1979 and in 2005, they left to start their own independent movie studio, The Weinstein Company.
Through his decades in art house production and distribution of wildly profitable films, the 65-year-old executive formed friendships and professional connections with a huge number of A-list celebrities and celebrated filmmakers, often early in their careers.
In 1987, Weinstein married his personal assistant at Miramax, Eve Chilton. The pair, who share three daughters -- Lilly, 22, Emma, 19, and Ruth, 14 -- later divorced in 2004.
Later that same year, he began dating English fashion designer and Marchesca co-founder They tied the knot in 2007 and share two kids -- 7-year-old daughter India and 4-year-old son, Dashiell
First Reports Surface
While many insiders have come forth to say that have been circulating around Hollywood for years, the first major report detailing specific allegations was published by on Oct. 5.
The report -- which claims Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women over sexual harassment claims from 1990 to 2015 -- featured an interview with Ashley Judd, who was the first big-name star that Weinstein sexually harassed her.
Judd claimed Weinstein invited her to The Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for a breakfast business meeting, but was surprised when he sent her up to his suite. Judd claims the producer appeared in a bathrobe and alleges that, despite her repeated rejections, he continuously requested intimate favors from her -- including a massage, a shoulder rub and allegedly asking if she would watch him take a shower.
Weinstein Responds, Apologizes and Threatens to Sue
In a statement to ET, Weinstein's lawyer, Charles J. Harder, said the New York Times report was "saturated with false and defamatory statements," and that it "relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different eyewitnesses."
"We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish," Harder stated. "We are preparing the lawsuit now. All proceeds will be donated to women’s organizations."
After the report was published, Weinstein where he wrote, "I came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then. I have since learned it’s not an excuse – in the office or out of it. To anyone."
Weinstein also stated, "I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though I’m trying to be better, I have a long way to go. This is my commitment. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons… I so respect all women and regret what happened."
Over the past year, had been advising Weinstein on "gender and power dynamics," according to The New York Times.
"I'm working with a guy who has behaved badly over the years, who is genuinely remorseful, who says, you know, 'I have caused a lot of pain,'" said Bloom -- who took some heat while serving as Weinstein's advisor from critics who accused her of defending his behavior -- on .
The next day, however, Bloom announced that she had resigned from the position, tweeting, "My understanding is that Mr. Weinstein and his board are moving toward an agreement."
Accusers Continue to Come Forward
The NYT article spoke with eight women who alleged that they'd been targets of Weinstein's sexual harassment, and many others in the days following the report. Here are some of the A-list stars who are among the myriad of accusers.
- Mira Sorvino
The Oscar-winning actress claimed in that Weinstein sexually harassed her and tried to pressure her into a physical relationship while they worked together. Sorvino alleges that during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1995, she warded off Weinstein's advances in a hotel room, telling him it was against her religion to date married men."He started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around," she alleged.
- Gwyneth Paltrow
The Shakespeare In Love actress in an article published on Tuesday, where she alleges that Weinstein summoned her to his suite at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for a work meeting when she was 22, before production began on the 1996 romantic dramedy Emma. The meeting allegedly ended with the producer placing his hands on her and suggesting they head to the bedroom for massages.
"I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified,” adding that she refused his alleged advances, and told a few friends, family members, her agent, and her then-boyfriend, Brad Pitt. ET has learned that Pitt "strongly confronted [Weinstein] and told him repeatedly that it better never happen again."
- Asia Argento
The actress at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera when she was 21 years old. Argento says she came to the event for a party that Miramax was throwing, but found herself in a hotel room alone with Weinstein after a producer took her upstairs to him.
Argento alleges that, after reluctantly giving a massage to Weinstein, who was in his bathrobe, he forced her legs apart and performed oral sex on her after she repeatedly told him to stop. "[Weinstein] terrified me, and he was so big," Argento claims. "It wouldn’t stop. It was a nightmare. ... I was not willing."
- Cara Delevingne
The on Wednesday with allegations that Weinstein had sexually harassed her on two different occasions. According to Delevingne, she first heard from Weinstein in her early years as an actress. "I was working on a film and I received a call from Harvey Weinstein asking if I had slept with any of the women I was seen out with in the media," she claims, calling their talk "odd and uncomfortable."
Delevingne says her next encounter with Weinstein occurred "a year or two later," when he Weinstein allegedly brought her to his hotel room and tried to get her to kiss another woman who was already waiting there.
"I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....I thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....I was so nervous," she wrote. "After singing I said again that I had to leave. He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room."
These are just some of the woman who have and assault. Other accusers include several of Weinstein's former employees -- Emily Nestor, Lauren O’Connor, Lauren Madden, and Zelda Perkins -- as well as actresses Heather Graham, Lucia Evans, Emma de Caunes, Jessica Barth, Romola Garai, Katherine Kendall, Tomi-Ann Roberts, Judith Godrèche, Léa Seydoux, and Louisette Geiss.
Costume designer Dawn Dunning, charity coordinator Louise Godbold, model Zoe Brock, artist and writer Liza Campbell, and model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez have also spoken out with allegations of sexual misconduct, and the accusations.
