December 20, 2022
A Los Angeles court has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexual crimes. The disgraced movie mogul was found guilty of charges related to rape and sexual misconduct by a jury on Monday. This is the second criminal trial for Weinstein.
In 2020, Weinstein was found guilty in another criminal case brought against him in New York and is currently serving out a 23 year sentence. The charges surrounded the allegations of rape and sexual assault by Jessica Mann (actress) and Mimi Haley (production assistant). An appeal hearing was subsequently granted in August 2022.
A mountain of allegations from over 80 women were levied against the movie producer, particularly during the #MeToo movement, citing incidents of him sexually assaulting women in the film industry including actresses, models and staff. There were reports of him luring women into his office or hotel rooms for sex or giving sexual ultimatums in order to appear in movies he was producing. The movement unearthed two decades of criminal sexual behavior by the movie mogul, a secret kept in the dark by Hollywood.
Prominent actresses including Gwyneth Paltrow, Lena Headley, Angelina Jolie and Ashley Judd, came forward to describe their experiences with Weinstein. In 2022 Judd was granted civil litigation against the producer on allegations that she was blackballed in Hollywood after refusing his sexual advances in order to star in films.
Ashley Judd, Instagram @ashley_judd
Salma Hayek confirmed she also had to refuse his many sexual advances and threats while filming Frida, after which he responded "I will kill you, don't think I can't."
Salma Hayek, Frida (2002)
With this added conviction Weinstein is facing an additional sentence of up to 24 years at the age of 70.
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