Harvey Weinstein
“Stunned”, “horrified” – this is how Hollywood reacts to the overturning of Weinstein’s verdict
Harvey Weinstein, film producer from the USA, in court in Manhattan in 2020.
© Mark Lennihan / DPA
Former film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s historic conviction for sex crimes has been overturned. The case is being reopened. This causes horror.
The case was actually closed – in the truest sense of the word. Four years ago the former film producer became Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. Later another 16 years were added as a result of another procedure. For a long time, it wasn’t even close to being discussed that Weinstein would ever leave prison again.
The now 72-year-old appeared very frail and visibly weakened at the time, perhaps for show – and the sentences were therefore too long for him to survive. At least the first verdict is now being renegotiated. He remains in prison only because of the conviction in the second California trial. In principle, nothing changes for the time being – but the annulment of the first verdict still triggers worldwide horror. Especially in the film industry.
New trial in the Harvey Weinstein case is met with incomprehension
Hollywood star Ashley Judd, who first made allegations against Weinstein in 2017, spoke to the “New York Times”. She stated “This is unfair to those affected. We are still living in our truth. And we know what happened.”
Oscar winner Mira Sorvino also accused Weinstein of sexual harassment. In one Statement on Xformerly of Twitter, she wrote: “Horrified […]. Since when do courts not allow evidence of past bad acts to be admitted?”
Actress Katherine Kendall is among the women who also spoke to The New York Times. She is quoted as saying: “It’s a terrible reminder that victims of sexual assault simply don’t get justice. I feel completely let down by the justice system at the moment. I’m kind of stunned.”
You hear something similar from model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. She had accused Weinstein of touching her breast and putting his hand up her skirt. She explains: “If the prosecution had taken my case seriously in 2015, we wouldn’t be here now. This is an ongoing failure of the justice system – and the courts – to take survivors seriously and protect our interests.”
Opportunities for perpetrators, lasting damage for victims
Sarah Ann Masse, an actress who accused Weinstein of sexually abusing her in 2017, said: “The perpetrators are given one chance after another to return to their ‘normal lives,’ while the survivors continue to suffer from a lack of support, ongoing trauma , chronic illness, mental health issues, economic harm and various forms of retaliation.”
Caitlin Dulany, who also accused Weinstein of sexual assault, spoke to the “Rolling Stones“. She woke up “with this craziness” and is clearly unhappy with the procedure: “We were all definitely worried that this could be a possibility, right? Many of us were talking this morning. Of course we are disappointed, angry and have the feeling, yuck, not again. (But) there is obviously a loophole in the law. It’s not that he’s innocent or that these things didn’t happen.” But Dulany is reassured that “he will remain in prison, at least until he’s almost 90 years old.”
The battle is not lost for the Manhattan district attorney’s office. She stated that she would “do everything in our power” to retry the case. “We will continue to advocate for survivors of sexual assault,” it said.
Rose McGowan: ‘They will never overturn who we are’
Some statements tend to read combatively. Actress Rose McGowan is quoted as saying, “You will never overturn who we are. Blessings to all who have given their best.”
“She Said” star Sarah Ann Masse felt it was important to emphasize one thing above all else. She told Rolling Stone: “Today’s decision in no way implies that Weinstein is innocent. And the world has changed forever because of the women who were brave enough to challenge him in court.”
Arthur Aidala, a defense attorney for Weinstein, issued the following statement to various media outlets: “Today’s verdict is not just a victory for Harvey Weinstein, but a victory for every citizen in this country accused of a crime, no matter how popular or unpopular “The Court has loudly declared that he is entitled to all the protections provided by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York.”