Harvey Weinstein

American film producer and convicted sex offender

Harvey Weinstein /wɑɪnstin/ (born March 19, 1952) is an American movie producer, movie studio executive. He and his brother Bob Weinstein co-founded Miramax, which produced several popular independent movies including Pulp Fiction, Clerks, The Crying Game, and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.[1]

Harvey Weinstein
Weinstein in 2014
Born (1952-03-19) March 19, 1952 (age 72)
EducationUniversity at Buffalo
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1979–2017
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Eve Chilton
(m. 1987; div. 2004)

(m. 2007; div. 2017)
Children5
RelativesBob Weinstein (brother)
Criminal information
Criminal statusCurrently incarcerated, awaiting second trial in Los Angeles
Conviction(s)
1 count of third-degree rape, 1 count of criminal sexual assault in the first degree
Criminal chargeRape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct
Penalty23 years in prison

As of 2024's second quarter, he is still being held by authorities; In May 2024, the justice system said that he will have to go thru a trial in the future; The date has not been set (as of the beginning of May).[2]

Earlier (2020), there was a trial that said he was a rapist. He was convicted to 23 years in prison. In April 2024, a court of appeal in New York, said this conviction (from 2020) was not valid. [3] The judge said that Weinstein did not get a fair trial.[4]

Career

change

Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in Love, and won seven Tony Awards for producing a variety of winning plays and musicals, including The Producers, Billy Elliot the Musical, and August: Osage County.[5]

Weinstein and his brother Bob were co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company from 2005 to 2017.

Weinstein is Jewish[6] and a Democrat.

In Oscar acceptance speeches given since 1966, Weinstein has been thanked a total of 34 times by actors and actresses – equalling thanks given to God, and second only to Steven Spielberg with 43 mentions.[7]

Sexual harassment allegations

change

In October 2017, following many allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape, Weinstein was fired by his company's board of directors, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[8] As a result, the #MeToo movement began to raise awareness of victims of sexual abuse and harassment.

Arrest and trial

change

On May 25, 2018, Weinstein was arrested in New York, charged with rape and other offenses, and released on bail.[9]

On February 24, 2020, he was found guilty of two of five felonies in New York, charges which carry a sentence of up to twenty five years.[10]

Health

change

On March 22, 2020, Weinstein was diagnosed with COVID-19 while in prison in New York.[11][12]

In October 2024, it was reported that he had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.[13][14]

References

change
  1. Kunz, William M. (2007). Culture Conglomerates: Consolidation in the Motion Picture And Television Industries. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7425-4066-8. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  2. https://www.vg.no/rampelys/i/zALeOO/det-blir-ny-rettssak-for-harvey-weinstein. Retrieved 2024-05-01
  3. https://direkte.dn.no/nyhetsstudio/#148794. Retrieved 2024-04-25
  4. https://www.vg.no/rampelys/i/vgmQ5l/ankedomstol-i-new-york-opphever-voldtektsdommen-mot-harvey-weinstein. VG.no. Retrieved 2024-04-25
  5. Klinger, Barbara (March 13, 2006). Beyond the Multiplex: Cinema, New Technologies, and the Home. University of California Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-520-24586-0. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  6. Renee, Ghert-Zand (March 6, 2012). "Weinstein Awarded French Legion of Honor" Archived 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Jewish Daily Forward.
  7. Rodriguez, Ashley. "How powerful was Harvey Weinstein? Almost no one has been thanked at the Oscars more". Quartz. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  8. Lartey, Jamiles; London, Edward Helmore David Batty in (October 14, 2017). "Harvey Weinstein expelled from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  9. "Harvey Weinstein charged with rape". BBC News. May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  10. Pilkington, Ed (February 24, 2020). "Harvey Weinstein found guilty at rape trial". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  11. Mahoney, Joe (March 22, 2020). "At New York prison, Harvey Weinstein put in isolation after contracting virus". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  12. Patten, Dominic (March 22, 2020). "Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive For Coronavirus In NY State Prison; Convicted Producer In Isolation". Deadline. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  13. "Harvey Weinstein Diagnosed With Cancer". The Hollywood Repoter.
  14. "Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, sources say". NBC News.