Embattled Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was sacked Sunday, said the board of the studio he co-founded. Coming under heavy criticism from the Republicans, nearly a dozen Democratic senators said that they would donate Weinstein’s monetary contributions to not-for-profit companies that work for women who have survived sexual abuse. He was “fired for cause” following a board meeting on Sunday. At the time, the company said Weinstein was taking an indefinite leave of absence but stopped short of calling for his ouster as some had demanded. Last week Bloom told the Times that Weinstein denies numerous claims; she later announced that she is no longer advising Weinstein.
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The money and the power behind some of the biggest Hollywood films of the past 25 years, Weinstein and brother Bob founded Miramax in 1979, building it into a major Hollywood player before selling it to Disney in 1993.
On another front, Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski tweeted that “unless Harvey resigns” she will withdraw from a three-book deal she has with Weinstein Books.
The company’s board backed his decision, but took it further on Monday as “new information” emerged about Weinstein’s conduct. “That was the culture then”, he said.
Charles Harder, another lawyer hired by the movie mogul, said the newspaper story was “saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein”. The producer is accused by several women, including actresses stars Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan have tried to massage them, to have them forced to look at naked or have promised to encourage their career for sex. “However, Mr. Weinstein denies many of them and was not given a fair opportunity to present evidence and witnesses on his side”.
We’ll keep you updated as more details are revealed over the Harvey Weinstein fallout.
Despite admitting to “some responsibility” for behavior that brought on the complaints, Weinsten also said that the Times’ report is rife with inaccuracies and that he plans to sue the paper for $50 million, the New York Post reported. Kendall Jenner
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Weinstein told the Times that he was seeing therapists and “trying to do better”.
