Harvey Weinstein is being put under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
On October 5, the New York Times first went public with their investigation where several women came forward and claimed sexual misconduct allegations against the Hollywood producer.
According to the publication, Harvey reached at least eight settlements with various women over a span of nearly 30 years. Ultimately, Harvey released his own statement after the story broke.
"I came of age in the 60's and 70's, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then," he explained. "I have since learned it's not an excuse, in the office—or out of it. To anyone. I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed."
Harvey continued, "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. That is my commitment."
Ronan Farrow then published an article in The New Yorker Tuesday in which three women accused Weinstein of rape. His rep said in response, "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously can't speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance."
His lawyer has called the allegations in the initial New York Times article "false and defamatory" and claimed a lawsuit against the publication is being prepped.
As new allegations continue to be revealed, some of Hollywood's biggest stars are speaking out and sharing their own perspectives. Take a look at what some actors and actresses—who have and haven't worked with Harvey in the past—have to say.
Angelina Jolie"I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did," she told The New York Times via email. "This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable."
Gwyneth Paltrow The actress told The New York Times that when she was 22, Weinstein hired her for the lead role in Emma and that before production began he invited her to his hotel suite, placed his hands on her and suggested they get massages. She said, "I was a kid...I was signed up. I was petrified." She said she refused his advances and told her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, who confronted Weinstein and told him never to touch her again.
Cara Delevingne The model and actress said that she attended a meeting with Weinstein and a director in a hotel lobby and that she and Weinstein were later left alone, after which he invited her to his room. She said she declined initially but went there after his assistant said her car was not ready.
"When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately that I was safe," she said in a statement posted on Instagram. "He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing...I thought it would make the situation better...more professional...like an audition...I was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave. He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room."
"I still got the part for the film and always thought that he gave it to me because of what happened," she continued. "Since then I felt awful that I did the movie. I felt like I didn't deserve the part. I was so hesitant about speaking out...I didn't want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong. I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear. I want women and girls to know that being harassed or abused or raped is NEVER their fault and not talking about it will always cause more damage than speaking the truth."
Rose McGowan: Shortly after Harvey was fired from The Weinstein Company, Rose called on his board to resign. "I'm calling on the board to resign effective immediately," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. "And for other men to stop other men when they are being disgusting. Men in Hollywood need to change ASAP. Hollywood's power is dying because society has changed and grown, and yet Hollywood male behavior has not. It is so not a good look. In the way cooler than Hollywood world I live and work in, I am actually embarrassed to be associated with it."
Ashley Judd: In the original New York Times story, Ashley was one alleged victim who shared her experience with Harvey. According to the actress, Harvey asked if he could give her a massage or she could watch him shower. "Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly," Ashley shared in the interview.
Asia Argento: The Italian actress and xXx star told Farrow in a New Yorker interview that when she was 21, he performed oral sex on her in a hotel room against her will. She said that over the years, he kept contacting her and she eventually yielded to his further advances and even had consensual sexual relations with him, because she felt "obliged" to, adding, "After the rape, he won."
Anthony Bourdain The Parts Unknown star and boyfriend of Argento tweeted, ".@AsiaArgento I am proud and honored to know you. You just did the hardest thing in the world."
He also responded to a tweet that read "DOZENS of prominent actors and producers gave 'no comment' after Weinstein bombshell," Bourdain replied, "Nauseating, chicken-hearted enablers all." He then clarified, "I'm not talking about his victims. I'm talking about everyone else who knew and said nothing. Who are still staying silent." He also added, "And to be clear: I'm talking about all the people who knew and said nothing -and those who are STILL staying silent . NOT his victims."
Bourdain then tweeted his support for McGowan, ".@rosemcgowan has been way out in front of this thing . Took a lot of courage."
Mark Ruffalo: "I just think we have to break out of our comfort zones if we want anything really to change," he told E! News' Zuri Hall at the premiere of Thor Ragnarock. "America's gotten so tribal that people are just protective of people doing really terrible stuff because they're part of your scene or they're part of your industry. Listen, it's just as wrong [when] the president does it as it is as Harvey Weinstein or any other person out there and the men gotta speak up for the women and the women gotta speak up for the men...we got to get out of our comfort zones, otherwise it's gonna stay the same."
"To be clear what Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power and horrible," the actor alleged on Twitter. "I hope we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses." Jessica Chastain would later share the same tweet with an additional message that stated, "You are a wonderful human."
Meryl Streep: Back at the 2012 Golden Globes, the actress jokingly referred to Harvey as "God." On Monday, however, the Oscar winner publicly distanced herself from the producer. "The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes," Meryl said in a statement to E! News. "One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew."
Grace Gummer (Streep's daughter): "The club of silence surrounding sexual harassment is disgusting," she tweeted. "It must be broken. Be loud. Be brave. We are all listening."
Terry Crews: "This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME," he tweeted. "My wife n I were at a Hollywood function last year n a high level Hollywood executive came over 2 me and groped my privates...He called me the next day with an apology but never really explained why he did what he did. I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn't want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence. I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go. Who's going 2 believe you? ( few) What r the repercussions?(many) Do u want 2 work again? (Yes) R you prepared 2b ostracized?"
Kate Winslet: "The fact that these women are starting to speak out about the gross misconduct of one of our most important and well regarded film producers, is incredibly brave and has been deeply shocking to hear. The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is NOT the way women should ever EVER deem to be acceptable or commonplace in ANY workplace," the actress—who appeared in The Weinstein Company's The Reader—said in a statement to Variety. "I have no doubt that for these women this time has been, and continues to be extremely traumatic. I fully embrace and salute their profound courage, and I unequivocally support this level of very necessary exposure of someone who has behaved in reprehensible and disgusting ways. His behavior is without question disgraceful and appalling and very, very wrong. I had hoped that these kind of stories were just made up rumors, maybe we have all been naïve. And it makes me so angry. There must be ‘no tolerance' of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world."
Judi Dench: While the actress credits Harvey for helping her career in Hollywood, she couldn't help but show her support for the women coming forward with their experiences. "Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying," Judi said in a statement, according to The Sun. "I offer my sympathy those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out."
Lena Dunham: In a recent Twitter thread, the Girls star expressed her support for the women coming forward. "Anyone saying these women are weak for taking a settlement or waiting to come forward-you don't understand what intimidation means," she shared. "Men like Weinstein threaten what you hold dear- your safety, financial freedom and yes-career. Now is the time to listen and learn, not make ethical judgments about women who were intimidated, coerced and harmed."
Glenn Close"I'm sitting here, deeply upset, acknowledging to myself that, yes, for many years, I have been aware of the vague rumors that Harvey Weinstein had a pattern of behaving inappropriately around women. Harvey has always been decent to me, but now that the rumors are being substantiated, I feel angry and darkly sad," the actress shared in a statement to the New York Times. "I'm angry, not just at him and the conspiracy of silence around his actions, but also that the 'casting couch' phenomenon, so to speak, is still a reality in our business and in the world: the horrible pressure, the awful expectation put on a woman when a powerful, egotistical, entitled bully expects sexual favors in exchange for a job. Ours is an industry in which very few actors are indispensable and women are cast in far fewer roles than men, so the stakes are higher for women and make them more vulnerable to the manipulations of a predator. I applaud the monumental courage of the women who have spoken up. I hope that their stories and the reportage that gave them their voices represents a tipping point, that more stories will be told and that change will follow."
Brie Larson: Soon after the New York Times article was published, the actress spoke out on Twitter with her thoughts. "As always, I stand with the brave survivors of sexual assault and harassment," she wrote. "It's not your fault. I believe you."
America Ferrera: When sharing the original New York Times story on Twitter, America added her own message to her followers. "This abuse of power must be called out, however powerful the abuser," she wrote. "And we must publicly stand with those brave enough to come forward."
Christian Slater: "Women who come forward to speak out against abusers do so at great cost and risk to themselves and it's hard to believe that they are met with shaming statements, disbelief, and blame," the actor said in a lengthy statement on Twitter. "The brave actions of the women who went on the record and the journalists that shared their truth have powerfully challenged that paradigm. No woman should fear for her safety in the workplace. No man should feel immune from the consequences of his actions."
Amber Tamblyn: When sharing an article calling on Harvey to release women from NDAs so they can tell their stories, Amber added: "Mr. Weinstein, I would have the upmost respect for you if you did this. The beginning of all healing is the truth. Let them speak." As for those being critical of the women who waited to come forward, the actress had a message. "Please stop holding actresses and women accountable for these silences and shaming them for not coming forward immediately. Stop," she explained.
Julianne Moore: "Coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so," Julianne wrote to her Twitter followers Monday morning before giving credit to the women who shared their stories in the New York Times. "But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others.
George Clooney: "It's indefensible. That's the only word you can start with," the Oscar winner said in a statement to The Daily Beast. "Harvey's admitted to it, and it's indefensible. I've known Harvey for twenty years. He gave me my first big break as an actor in films on From Dusk till Dawn, he gave me my first big break as a director with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. We've had dinners, we've been on location together, we've had arguments. But I can tell you that I've never seen any of this behavior—ever."
Judd Apatow: When sharing a New York Times follow-up article on Harvey, Judd shared his thoughts on the legal scandal. "What Harvey Weinstein did was abhorrent. He admits he did it," the director stated. "Why should anyone be silent in their disgust and support for his victims?"
Jessica Chastain: "I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again," Jessica shared with her Twitter followers after sharing numerous articles about the Harvey case. And when one follower questioned why she worked with him in Eleanor Rigby, she responded: "Because the director wanted him, even after I spoke against it."
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: While sharing Ruffalo's Tweet about Harvey, the Modern Family star added his own remarks to the conversation. "My heart breaks for everyone who was hurt by this man," Jesse wrote. "As a actor, a human & a feminist I am standing in support. Always have. Always will."
Olivia Wilde: "1. Let's be clear. What Harvey Weinstein did to those women was nothing short of abuse. I am disturbed, and disgusted. It's appalling. 2. Though I never witnessed it, I stand in solidarity with his victims, and hope their bravery sends a loud message to all abusers of power," Olivia shared in a Twitter thread. "3. The victim blaming needs to stop. As does the shaming of women who didn't come forward earlier. They spoke, and we are here to listen."
Connie Britton: "I'm really proud of and impressed with the women who have come out and spoken out about it," Connie told E! News exclusively at the SMILF premiere Monday. "But I have to say I'm also…I'm glad that Harvey is taking some time to really look at this from a therapeutic standpoint and…I'm glad he's making that choice. I hope that as a very…as a pretty prominent figure in the culture that that will be an example to people and maybe start to change the culture."
Stephen Colbert The Late Show host talked about Harvey on Monday's show. "Speaking of something you never noticed that was there all along...famed Hollywood producer and human Shrek Harvey Weinstein is a bad person." He then went on to say that this is "monstrous behavior that in a just world would not be allowed to go on for decades." He added, "It is indefensible."
Mindy Kaling: Mindy wrote on Twitter Monday, "There is no incentive for women in Hollywood to come forward to tell lies of a powerful producer sexually harassing them. I believe them." She then wrote, "Why is it helpful men speak up? Bc that's what this personality fears most: the disintegration of the tacit male support for this behavior."
Paul Feig: Paul tweeted Monday, "There is no excuse for monsters like Harvey Weinstein. It's up to all of us, men and women, to speak up against sexual harassment and abuse."
Jimmy Kimmel: The Jimmy Kimmel Live host responded to Donald Trump Jr.'s question over the weekend asking his thoughts on Harvey Weinstein. "You mean that big story from the failing, liberal, one-sided @nytimes? I think it is disgusting." He also discussed Weinstein on Monday's show sharing a joke about the movie producer as he had promised. "What's the difference between Harvey Weinstein and the Pillsbury Doughboy? When the Pillsbury Doughboy offers you a roll, he doesn't ask you to watch him take a shower for it."
Emma Watson: The actress wrote on Twitter Tuesday, "I stand with all the women who have been sexually harassed, and am awestruck by their bravery. This mistreatment of women has to stop." She continued, "In this instance it was women affected but I also stand with all the men, indeed any person, who has suffered sexual harassment."
Rosie O'Donnell: Rosie spoke to E! News on the red carpet at the SMILF premiere Monday. "Well you know I'm 55 he's 65, he became very famous at the same time my show was hitting. So I knew him and I knew of him and these stories were not a surprise to me." See more of Rosie's comments in the video above.
Nicole Kidman: The actress said in a statement to E! News Tuesday, "As I've stated before publicly, I support and applaud all women and these women who speak out against any abuse and misuse of power -- be it domestic violence or sexual harassment in the workforce. We need to eradicate this behavior."
The Sundance Institute and Film Festival: "The Sundance Institute and Film Festival denounce, in the strongest possible terms, the behavior of Harvey Weinstein as described by the growing number of women who have bravely come forward," the group said in a statement on Twitter. "The accusations are abhorrent and profoundly disturbing. We recognize that too often a pattern of abuse like this one thrives in the shadows and we stand in solidarity with the courageous women whose honesty has helped shine a light on it."
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