Sources close to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein say he will fight the decision to fire him at a board meeting later this week.
For Weinstein, the problem might be that there may not be a board to hear his case.
Another board member resigned yesterday, making it five directors who have quit since news broke of Weinstein’s sexual assaults and rape.
Rhe Weinstein Co., now run by Weinstein’s brother, Bob, and chief operating officer David Glasser, said in a statement Sunday that he was fired “In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days,” after the New York Times and New Yorker published allegations of sexual harassment or assault over the decades.
A wave of Hollywood actresses, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, came forward and alleged sexual misconduct. Actress Rose McGowan has also alleged that she was raped by the movie mogul.
Weinstein has denied the allegations that he engaged in non-consensual sex with women, and no criminal charges have been brought against him.
“Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein,” Weinstein’s spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, said in a statement this week.
The news that Harvey Weinstein is fighting on despite being disgraced by Hollywood was first reported by the Hollywood website TMZ.
The beleaguered Weinstein Co. saw another board departure on Thursday evening with Richard Koenigsberg opting to step down, according to a source in a position to know. Koenigsberg is the fifth board executive to exit in the past week.
Last weekend four directors departed, including Dirk Ziff, Marc Lasry, Tim Sarnoff and Paul Tudor Jones.
The company is facing a potential crisis as a result of partners reconsidering working with the firm, which is 42 percent owned by Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
Apple has reportedly said it was suspending a biopic series “Elvis” from the Weinstein Co., according to Deadline. Hachette Books terminated its deal with Weinstein Books, the New York Times reported, and Amazon Studios was “reviewing” its relationship, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The company denied any notion of a sale or bankruptcy, suggested by Wall Street Journal article on Friday evening. In a statement Friday, company co-chair Bob Weinstein said: “Our banks, partners and shareholders are fully supportive of our company and it is untrue that the company or board is exploring a sale or shutdown of the company.”
Harvey Weinstein is a pig, but he has plenty of company in Hollywood. This makes the hysteria from both men and women in show business ring a little hollow.
“The Academy finds the conduct described in the allegations against Harvey Weinstein to be repugnant, abhorrent, and antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents. The Board of Governors will be holding a special meeting on Saturday, October 14, to discuss the allegations against Weinstein and any actions warranted by the Academy.”
At least one member, CBS Films boss Terry Press Marx, said in a Facebook post reviewed by NBC News and widely reported that she will step down if the Academy doesn’t take action against Weinstein. She declined further comment to NBC News.
Just think. If the first women who had been mistreated by Weinstein had come forward to accuse him, he wouldn’t have gotten away with it for this long. I realize there is a cost to reporting sexual harassment by someone so powerful. But for some of these women who were abused decades ago to now come forward in righteous anger is hypocritical. Back then, they were only thinking of themselves and their own careers. And dozens of women suffered because of their cowardice.
No, this is not the politically correct position to hold. But I am not blaming the victims for what Weinstein did to them. I am blaming them for enabling his behavior for decades. There is a huge difference, and feminists who refuse to criticize these women are only enabling other abusers to continue their assaults.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member