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Meryl Streep speaks out against Harvey Weinstein and 'disgraceful' sexual harassment allegations
Meryl Streep slams 'disgraceful' Harvey Weinstein over sexual abuse allegations
(about 11 hours later)
Two of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses have both condemned and distanced themselves from producer Harvey Weinstein’s over allegations of sexual harassment made against him, saying they were unaware of his actions.
Meryl Streep has called Harvey Weinstein “disgraceful” over the sexual harassment allegations made against the Hollywood producer.
Meryl Streep and Judi Dench, both venerated performers who have worked with Mr Weinstein, said in statements that they had no knowledge of the producer’s alleged abuses.
The Academy Award-winner issued a statement to The Huffington Post, revealing she was not aware of Weinstein’s behaviour before the allegations were made public.
In the days since the New York Times revealed decades of sexual harassment accusations against Mr Weinstein, an influential hitmaker behind a string of major critical and box office successes, numerous stars have publicly assailed him. His attorney rejected many of the claims of harassment as “patently false”.
Streep has collaborated with Weinstein on numerous projects, including August: Osage County and The Iron Lady, even once referring to him as a “God”.
While calling the news “disgraceful” and saying she was “appalled”, Ms Streep disavowed knowing of Mr Weinstein’s “inexcusable” conduct.
Weinstein has been accused of sexually harassing numerous women over the past few decades, the producer having reportedly paid eight individuals to keep the story quiet.
“The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," she said.
Many critics, including Donald Trump Jnr, have been vocal about Hollywood not discussing the Weinstein situation. The Daily Beast even used an image of the producer with Streep for an article titled: “Hollywood’s Loud Silence on Harvey Weinstein’s Sexual Harassment Allegations.”
Amid the fallout of the New York Times report Mr Weinstein said he was taking a leave of absence from his company. Days before his sacking, he issued an apology after claims were made by women with whom he had worked, including Ashley Judd, although he has not directly addressed the allegations himself.
Streep’s full statement reads: “The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes.
Representatives for Mr Weinstein, a long-time backer of the Democrats in the US, also made legal threats against the New York Times in the wake of its allegations, with one of his legal team claiming the newspaper's report was “saturated with false and defamatory statements”.
“One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally.
People have responded to the Times report by claiming that rumours of Mr Weinstein’s behaviour were commonplace. Times media critic Jim Rutenberg wrote that it was “‘the worst-kept secret’ in Hollywood and New York”.
“I didn’t know about these other offences: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. And if everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it.
Dame Judi said in a statement: “Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying."
“The behaviour is inexcusable but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
Ms Streep added in her statement: “One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally."
Since the allegations were published, Weinstein has been fired from The Weinstein Company. They said: “His employment is terminated, effective immediately.”
Referencing allegations described in the Times report, she added, “I didn’t know about these other offences: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts”.
"And if everybody knew, I don't believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it," the statement said.
Ms Streep previously joked that Mr Weinstein was “God” in an award acceptance speech.
Other entertainment industry luminaries also praised Weinstein's accusers for coming forward. Actor Mark Ruffalo slammed a “disgusting abuse of power”, and actress Emmy Rossum wrote that “DECADES of using power to intimidate women for sexual gain is reprehensible and inexcusable”.
“Heed the mantra and never forget: Women. Have. Nothing. To. Gain. And. Everything. To Lose. By. Coming. forward”, Actress, writer and director Amber Tamblyn said on Twitter.
And rather than confine their criticism to Mr Weinstein, numerous entertainers said the episode illuminated a toxic industry culture of silence around abuse toward women. Fresh off the Boat star Constance Wu said on Twitter that confronting rampant sexism was difficult because “if u address it seriously, u get: ‘relax it was a joke’”.
Emma Thompson told the BBC: “We need to talk about how we're behaving. Male predatory behaviour is everywhere, not just in the film industry.
“Speaking out is the only way we'll tackle it. Let's support those women who don't have the confidence to speak out," she added.
Mr Weinstein's brother Bob was instrumental in his dismissal from the company, which they founded together in 2005.
A statement from The Weinstein Company Board of Representatives said over the weekend: “In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company – Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar – have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately.”
