Harvey Weinstein is still in the middle of criminal proceedings on sexual assault charges, is soon due back in court, and has reached a tentative $25 million settlement with some of his accusers (which insurance will cover), but he still thinks he’s a victim in this situation.
The disgraced former movie mogul whom dozens of women have accused of sexual misconduct seems to be looking for sympathy in a new interview with the New York Post. Oh, and he would also like credit for all the work he did for women.
“I feel like the forgotten man,” he said. “I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker, and I’m talking about 30 years ago. I’m not talking about now when it’s vogue. I did it first! I pioneered it! It all got eviscerated because of what happened,” Weinstein said. “My work has been forgotten.”
Never mind that “what happened” was a whole lot of alleged abuse.
“I want this city to recognize who I was instead of what I’ve become,” he continued. Weinstein used a few examples from his past to try to make his point. “Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003 got $10 million to make a movie called View from the Top,” he said. “She was the highest-paid female actor in an independent film. Higher-paid than all the men.” He also cited “social issues” taken on in movies from his companies, Miramax and The Weinstein Company. “I understood the celebratory nature of the film [Paris Is Burning] and bought the distribution rights,” he said. “The same thing is true for Transamerica [for] which Felicity Huffman got an Academy Award.” (Huffman was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 2006, but did not win.)
In response to Weinstein’s interview, 23 women—including Judd, McGowan, and Rosanna Arquette—released the following statement to USA Today.
“Harvey Weinstein is trying to gaslight society again. He says in a new interview he doesn’t want to be forgotten. Well, he won’t be. He will be remembered as a sexual predator and an unrepentant abuser who took everything and deserves nothing,” The Silence Breakers said. “He will be remembered by the collective will of countless women who stood up and said enough. We refuse to let this predator rewrite his legacy of abuse.”
