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Harvey Weinstein’s Italian Friend Is Now in the Eye of a Media Storm | Harvey Weinstein’s Italian Friend Is Now in the Eye of a Media Storm |
(35 minutes later) | |
ROME — Earlier this month, after the allegations surfaced of systematic sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein, the once all-powerful movie producer sent a message to his old friend and employee Fabrizio Lombardo. | ROME — Earlier this month, after the allegations surfaced of systematic sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein, the once all-powerful movie producer sent a message to his old friend and employee Fabrizio Lombardo. |
It asked simply, “How are you?” | It asked simply, “How are you?” |
Mr. Lombardo, 58, sitting for an interview in a luxurious hotel lobby last week, said he still had not been able to bring himself to respond. But the answer was clearly not good. | Mr. Lombardo, 58, sitting for an interview in a luxurious hotel lobby last week, said he still had not been able to bring himself to respond. But the answer was clearly not good. |
The two men were once close. Mr. Lombardo worked for Mr. Weinstein as the head of Miramax Italy. He helped save Mr. Weinstein’s life after the movie mogul fell dangerously ill on the island of St. Barts and Mr. Weinstein served as the best man at Mr. Lombardo’s wedding in 2003. | The two men were once close. Mr. Lombardo worked for Mr. Weinstein as the head of Miramax Italy. He helped save Mr. Weinstein’s life after the movie mogul fell dangerously ill on the island of St. Barts and Mr. Weinstein served as the best man at Mr. Lombardo’s wedding in 2003. |
Now, the fallout from Mr. Weinstein’s catastrophic decline has engulfed him, too. Mr. Lombardo has become the object of scornful media coverage amid allegations by a well-known Italian actress and by a former model that he knowingly led them into private meetings in which Mr. Weinstein sexually harassed them nearly 20 years ago. | Now, the fallout from Mr. Weinstein’s catastrophic decline has engulfed him, too. Mr. Lombardo has become the object of scornful media coverage amid allegations by a well-known Italian actress and by a former model that he knowingly led them into private meetings in which Mr. Weinstein sexually harassed them nearly 20 years ago. |
Mr. Lombardo vehemently denies those accusations as well as the accounts of former Miramax executives that he was employed in part to help satisfy Mr. Weinstein’s voracious appetite. | Mr. Lombardo vehemently denies those accusations as well as the accounts of former Miramax executives that he was employed in part to help satisfy Mr. Weinstein’s voracious appetite. |
“That’s absolutely not true. I completely deny it. It’s false,” Mr. Lombardo said in another interview in his lawyer’s office in Rome, a city where he said he had done great work bringing movies and a lot of money to Miramax. | “That’s absolutely not true. I completely deny it. It’s false,” Mr. Lombardo said in another interview in his lawyer’s office in Rome, a city where he said he had done great work bringing movies and a lot of money to Miramax. |
He said he was “shocked” by the allegations against Mr. Weinstein, though he reserved judgment on the validity of the accusations. | He said he was “shocked” by the allegations against Mr. Weinstein, though he reserved judgment on the validity of the accusations. |
“This is something that nobody knows, except the people in the place where it happened,” he said. “A man wouldn’t tell this story. So how do I know? You see what I mean? I don’t think anybody knows except the people in the room.” | “This is something that nobody knows, except the people in the place where it happened,” he said. “A man wouldn’t tell this story. So how do I know? You see what I mean? I don’t think anybody knows except the people in the room.” |
At the height of Mr. Weinstein’s power, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, unease about Mr. Lombardo’s role in the company was so great that Mr. Weinstein attempted to allay concerns, according to Elizabeth Dreyer, a senior executive who was in charge of international acquisitions at the time. | At the height of Mr. Weinstein’s power, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, unease about Mr. Lombardo’s role in the company was so great that Mr. Weinstein attempted to allay concerns, according to Elizabeth Dreyer, a senior executive who was in charge of international acquisitions at the time. |
But Ms. Dreyer said Mr. Weinstein’s denial to his senior international staff at a meeting she attended did not entirely dispel suspicions inside the company. | But Ms. Dreyer said Mr. Weinstein’s denial to his senior international staff at a meeting she attended did not entirely dispel suspicions inside the company. |
Years earlier, Ms. Dreyer had worked in Miramax’s New York office and was responsible for reserving hotel rooms for the Cannes Film Festival. She recalled requesting a room at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for Mr. Lombardo, and being told that he was barred because the owner said he “brings too many girls.” | Years earlier, Ms. Dreyer had worked in Miramax’s New York office and was responsible for reserving hotel rooms for the Cannes Film Festival. She recalled requesting a room at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for Mr. Lombardo, and being told that he was barred because the owner said he “brings too many girls.” |
“That was kind of an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me,” she said, recalling thinking, “I get what Fabrizio is about now. I get the relationship.” | “That was kind of an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me,” she said, recalling thinking, “I get what Fabrizio is about now. I get the relationship.” |
Mr. Lombardo said that neither he nor Mr. Weinstein was ever barred from the hotel. (The hotel manager at the time would not comment.) Mr. Lombardo attributed the criticisms to people within the company who were “envious” of his relationship with Mr. Weinstein. | Mr. Lombardo said that neither he nor Mr. Weinstein was ever barred from the hotel. (The hotel manager at the time would not comment.) Mr. Lombardo attributed the criticisms to people within the company who were “envious” of his relationship with Mr. Weinstein. |
“They have to find a reason for their failure” he said, adding that it was not his fault what took place behind closed hotel room doors. “You can’t hold responsible the person who from the lobby shows the room.” | “They have to find a reason for their failure” he said, adding that it was not his fault what took place behind closed hotel room doors. “You can’t hold responsible the person who from the lobby shows the room.” |
In Italy, where a transactional approach to sex in show business and politics is often shrugged at, the accounts of some of Mr. Weinstein’s accusers have prompted indifference, or even blame toward the women. But some of the women are eager to take Mr. Weinstein, and his alleged facilitators, to task. | In Italy, where a transactional approach to sex in show business and politics is often shrugged at, the accounts of some of Mr. Weinstein’s accusers have prompted indifference, or even blame toward the women. But some of the women are eager to take Mr. Weinstein, and his alleged facilitators, to task. |
One of Mr. Weinstein’s accusers, Asia Argento, an Italian actress, received what she considered threatening messages on her telephone from Mr. Lombardo, whom she said she hadn’t heard from in years. | One of Mr. Weinstein’s accusers, Asia Argento, an Italian actress, received what she considered threatening messages on her telephone from Mr. Lombardo, whom she said she hadn’t heard from in years. |
“I’m scared to death,” Ms. Argento told a reporter by phone the morning after receiving the image on Oct. 3 of an anonymous couple passed out on a bed with the words, “Have You Ever Been This Drunk.” “Why is he sending me this?” she said. | “I’m scared to death,” Ms. Argento told a reporter by phone the morning after receiving the image on Oct. 3 of an anonymous couple passed out on a bed with the words, “Have You Ever Been This Drunk.” “Why is he sending me this?” she said. |
Mr. Lombardo acknowledged he had sent what he called the “funny videos,” but argued he sent them to her — on two separate days — as part of a mass forwarding by “mistake.” He expressed regret that Ms. Argento felt threatened and he conceded that “the timing was terrible.” | Mr. Lombardo acknowledged he had sent what he called the “funny videos,” but argued he sent them to her — on two separate days — as part of a mass forwarding by “mistake.” He expressed regret that Ms. Argento felt threatened and he conceded that “the timing was terrible.” |
Ms. Argento subsequently went public in The New Yorker with her account of sexual harassment by Mr. Weinstein, and she has since named Mr. Lombardo as the person who brought her to Mr. Weinstein’s room in 1997 under the false pretense of attending a party. | Ms. Argento subsequently went public in The New Yorker with her account of sexual harassment by Mr. Weinstein, and she has since named Mr. Lombardo as the person who brought her to Mr. Weinstein’s room in 1997 under the false pretense of attending a party. |
Another woman, Zoë Brock, has accused Mr. Lombardo of accompanying her into Mr. Weinstein’s Cannes hotel room in 1998 under the pretense that friends would soon be joining them to continue a party. | Another woman, Zoë Brock, has accused Mr. Lombardo of accompanying her into Mr. Weinstein’s Cannes hotel room in 1998 under the pretense that friends would soon be joining them to continue a party. |
Ms. Brock, a former model, said in a phone interview that Mr. Lombardo had excused himself to leave her alone with Mr. Weinstein, who, behind closed doors, stripped naked and chased her around the room. | Ms. Brock, a former model, said in a phone interview that Mr. Lombardo had excused himself to leave her alone with Mr. Weinstein, who, behind closed doors, stripped naked and chased her around the room. |
“It was a total set up. He knew,” Ms. Brock said, referring to Mr. Lombardo. | “It was a total set up. He knew,” Ms. Brock said, referring to Mr. Lombardo. |
Mr. Lombardo denied both of those accounts. Mr. Weinstein’s spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, said Mr. Weinstein denied all the allegations against Mr. Lombardo. | Mr. Lombardo denied both of those accounts. Mr. Weinstein’s spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, said Mr. Weinstein denied all the allegations against Mr. Lombardo. |
“As the executive in charge of Rome and parts of Europe, Mr. Lombardo made contributions that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for the company,” she said, going on to list many lucrative movies and adding that he “was helpful in making connections because of his network.” | “As the executive in charge of Rome and parts of Europe, Mr. Lombardo made contributions that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for the company,” she said, going on to list many lucrative movies and adding that he “was helpful in making connections because of his network.” |
Before Mr. Lombardo befriended actors and dated movie stars, he was the son of engineers in the northern Italian town of Novara. | |
He learned English in London and French in Paris, where he first put his early passion for real estate into practice. In Paris he also entered the orbit of Jean-Luc Brunel, a powerful modeling agent in the 1980s. | He learned English in London and French in Paris, where he first put his early passion for real estate into practice. In Paris he also entered the orbit of Jean-Luc Brunel, a powerful modeling agent in the 1980s. |
“He was one of the boys hanging around Jean-Luc,” said Renée Toft Simonsen, a top model at the time, who considered Mr. Lombardo “part of the system” of young men who hang around models and connect them with powerful people. | “He was one of the boys hanging around Jean-Luc,” said Renée Toft Simonsen, a top model at the time, who considered Mr. Lombardo “part of the system” of young men who hang around models and connect them with powerful people. |
Mr. Brunel, who surfaced in news reports several years ago for his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, a Flordia billionaire convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, declined to comment. | Mr. Brunel, who surfaced in news reports several years ago for his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, a Flordia billionaire convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, declined to comment. |
Mr. Lombardo ended up as part of the moveable feast. Former models and Miramax executives recalled him as a charming and handsome wingman of Italian soccer stars like his real-estate business partner Nicola Berti. | Mr. Lombardo ended up as part of the moveable feast. Former models and Miramax executives recalled him as a charming and handsome wingman of Italian soccer stars like his real-estate business partner Nicola Berti. |
Mr. Lombardo said he first met Mr. Weinstein and his family in St. Barts. Ms. Hofmeister, speaking for Mr. Weinstein, said the two met during the making of the film “Pulp Fiction,” when Mr. Lombardo was dating the actress Uma Thurman. | Mr. Lombardo said he first met Mr. Weinstein and his family in St. Barts. Ms. Hofmeister, speaking for Mr. Weinstein, said the two met during the making of the film “Pulp Fiction,” when Mr. Lombardo was dating the actress Uma Thurman. |
Mr. Weinstein and his first wife dined at Mr. Lombardo’s West Village townhouse and Mr. Lombardo said Mr. Weinstein’s office subsequently called him to help interpret during a meeting with Giuseppe Tornatore, the Italian who had directed the Oscar-winning film “Cinema Paradiso.” | Mr. Weinstein and his first wife dined at Mr. Lombardo’s West Village townhouse and Mr. Lombardo said Mr. Weinstein’s office subsequently called him to help interpret during a meeting with Giuseppe Tornatore, the Italian who had directed the Oscar-winning film “Cinema Paradiso.” |
But he said they mostly saw each other in Cannes and St. Barts, where, during a Weinstein family Christmas vacation, the mogul fell deathly ill with septicemia. | But he said they mostly saw each other in Cannes and St. Barts, where, during a Weinstein family Christmas vacation, the mogul fell deathly ill with septicemia. |
Mr. Lombardo arranged for a private plane to medevac Mr. Weinstein out and flew with him to New York, where Mr. Weinstein’s brother, Bob, waited with an ambulance. | Mr. Lombardo arranged for a private plane to medevac Mr. Weinstein out and flew with him to New York, where Mr. Weinstein’s brother, Bob, waited with an ambulance. |
“If he had waited another day in St. Barts he wouldn’t have survived,” Mr. Lombardo said. | “If he had waited another day in St. Barts he wouldn’t have survived,” Mr. Lombardo said. |
Mr. Lombardo returned to Italy to assist his ailing father but found himself smitten by the film business. His big break came, he said, when he brought Mr. Tornatore’s project, “Malèna,” to Mr. Weinstein, who, he said, rewarded him with a larger role in the company. | Mr. Lombardo returned to Italy to assist his ailing father but found himself smitten by the film business. His big break came, he said, when he brought Mr. Tornatore’s project, “Malèna,” to Mr. Weinstein, who, he said, rewarded him with a larger role in the company. |
In 1999, despite the objections of some Miramax executives in New York, Mr. Weinstein asked Mr. Lombardo to lead Miramax Italy. | In 1999, despite the objections of some Miramax executives in New York, Mr. Weinstein asked Mr. Lombardo to lead Miramax Italy. |
Ms. Dreyer oversaw Miramax’s Italy operations from an office in to London. She said she received a call from her superiors urging her to use Mr. Lombardo in everything she did. | Ms. Dreyer oversaw Miramax’s Italy operations from an office in to London. She said she received a call from her superiors urging her to use Mr. Lombardo in everything she did. |
“I thought this was a way to legitimize his involvement in the company,” she said, adding that his responsibilities amounted to setting up meetings and translating. He was thanked in the credits of the movie “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” In Rome, film insiders called him “The Talented Mr. Lombardo.” | “I thought this was a way to legitimize his involvement in the company,” she said, adding that his responsibilities amounted to setting up meetings and translating. He was thanked in the credits of the movie “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” In Rome, film insiders called him “The Talented Mr. Lombardo.” |
Mr. Lombardo, who often accompanied Mr. Weinstein during the Rome filming of “Gangs of New York,” argued that he played a crucial role in the company and that hiring him “was a good idea.” | Mr. Lombardo, who often accompanied Mr. Weinstein during the Rome filming of “Gangs of New York,” argued that he played a crucial role in the company and that hiring him “was a good idea.” |
In 2003, Mr. Weinstein served as the best man to Mr. Lombardo when he married Chiara Geronzi, the daughter of Cesare Geronzi, then chairman of the Capitalia bank. | In 2003, Mr. Weinstein served as the best man to Mr. Lombardo when he married Chiara Geronzi, the daughter of Cesare Geronzi, then chairman of the Capitalia bank. |
But soon after, Mr. Lombardo suffered some professional setbacks and his relationship with Mr. Weinstein withered. Miramax closed its Italian branch but the company was upset that Mr. Lombardo kept receiving payments, which he said protective Italian labor laws required. | But soon after, Mr. Lombardo suffered some professional setbacks and his relationship with Mr. Weinstein withered. Miramax closed its Italian branch but the company was upset that Mr. Lombardo kept receiving payments, which he said protective Italian labor laws required. |
An article in The New York Times in 2004 aired the company’s grievance, and Mr. Lombardo felt unfairly maligned and insufficiently defended by Mr. Weinstein. | An article in The New York Times in 2004 aired the company’s grievance, and Mr. Lombardo felt unfairly maligned and insufficiently defended by Mr. Weinstein. |
“We had a little falling out,” he said. | “We had a little falling out,” he said. |
Mr. Lombardo subsequently kept a lower profile, playing golf, raising a family and occasionally showing up for movie premieres with his wife. | Mr. Lombardo subsequently kept a lower profile, playing golf, raising a family and occasionally showing up for movie premieres with his wife. |
Several years ago, Mr. Lombardo bumped into Mr. Weinstein on the ski slopes in Gstaad, Switzerland, prompting a reconciliation. | Several years ago, Mr. Lombardo bumped into Mr. Weinstein on the ski slopes in Gstaad, Switzerland, prompting a reconciliation. |
As recently as Sept. 29 Mr. Lombardo received a message from Mr. Weinstein, he said, asking for help for a production about the composer Giacomo Puccini. | As recently as Sept. 29 Mr. Lombardo received a message from Mr. Weinstein, he said, asking for help for a production about the composer Giacomo Puccini. |
Earlier this year, Mr. Lombardo accompanied Mr. Weinstein to a private screening in Rome of the film “Perfetti Sconosciuti,” or “Perfect Strangers,” leading the Weinstein Company to buy the rights for an English language version. | Earlier this year, Mr. Lombardo accompanied Mr. Weinstein to a private screening in Rome of the film “Perfetti Sconosciuti,” or “Perfect Strangers,” leading the Weinstein Company to buy the rights for an English language version. |
“I made it happen,” Mr. Lombardo said, adding that instead of a payment, he sought only an executive producer credit to demonstrate to his daughters that their father was once somebody in the film business. | “I made it happen,” Mr. Lombardo said, adding that instead of a payment, he sought only an executive producer credit to demonstrate to his daughters that their father was once somebody in the film business. |
The movie tells the tale of old friends who think they know each other, but it turns out they don’t. | The movie tells the tale of old friends who think they know each other, but it turns out they don’t. |
“This film,” Mr. Weinstein told Variety in February, “is a hilarious and insightful look at what can happen when our addiction to phones and social media reveals our deepest secrets rather than letting people hide behind the public profiles they so skillfully create for themselves.” | “This film,” Mr. Weinstein told Variety in February, “is a hilarious and insightful look at what can happen when our addiction to phones and social media reveals our deepest secrets rather than letting people hide behind the public profiles they so skillfully create for themselves.” |