Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to another 16 years in prison

Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday for rape and two counts of sexual assault, adding to a 23-year prison sentence already handed down, in the wake of sexual assault allegations dating back decades. This brought down one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers and sparked a wave of accusations against other powerful people.

Highlights

• Harvey Weinstein will serve out his 16-year sentence – imposed by a Los Angeles court – after a 23-year prison sentence ordered by a New York court in 2020, meaning the 70-year-old will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
• In December, Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in a Los Angeles court after the model and actress, who was named in the lawsuit as Anonymous No. 1, testified that the producer assaulted her in a hotel after the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival in February 2013.
• Weinstein faced 11 counts at his trial in Los Angeles: he was found guilty on all three counts related to Anonymous No. 1, but four counts involving another unidentified woman, named Anonymous No. 5, were dropped, and he was acquitted of one count. Stranger Sexual Assault #3 and a procedural misconduct declared on Counts #2 and #4 of Strangers.
• Unidentified Number 4 has been identified as Jennifer Seibel Newsom, the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who said in November that Weinstein raped her in a hotel room in 2005 after meeting him at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• Prior to his sentencing, Weinstein called the case a “set-up” and continued to deny any wrongdoing, saying he and Stranger #1 never knew each other and that the case was about “money” (Weinstein pleaded not guilty).
• Three years ago, Weinstein was convicted separately of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act in a New York court, which sentenced him to 23 years in prison. The New York trial has focused mainly on abuse charges against actress Jessica Mann and former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haley, though prosecutors have called four other Weinstein co-accused to testify about his alleged abuse pattern (Weinstein has also pleaded not guilty to this the case).
• The allegations against Weinstein brought to trial are only part of the complaints against the film’s longtime producer: More than 100 women in total have accused Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment, according to The Cut, including several cases where he allegedly promised at work. Moving forward, after a 2017 exposé in The New York Times detailing decades of sexual harassment and paying victims settlements.

main context

Weinstein co-founded the film production and distribution company Miramax with his brother in 1979 and the film studio The Weinstein Company in 2005. He has produced films that have won major awards and box office earnings, including Shakespeare in love, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1999, although it is known for its aggressive Oscar campaign tactics. Although Weinstein’s abusive practices didn’t hit the headlines until 2017, some Hollywood personalities were aware of it and rumors circulated in the press. Director Quentin Tarantino said he once confronted Weinstein about his behavior, and Courtney Love warned aspiring actresses in a 2005 interview that if “Weinstein invites you to a private party at the Four Seasons, don’t go.” Despite allegations of abuse spanning decades, journalists initially struggled to cover the story as many victims feared reprisals if they spoke out against the powerful product. Weinstein was questioned by police in 2015 for allegedly “groping” Italian model Ambra Gutierrez, who took an audio recording of her interaction with Weinstein, but no charges were filed; Later, the New York Police Department and the Attorney General’s office blamed each other for not pursuing charges. Decades of harassment against Weinstein came to light in October 2017, when The New York Times and The New Yorker published investigations detailing cases of sexual assault and payouts to victims, including actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. These revelations quickly prompted other alleged victims to come forward; A women’s group released a list of 100 allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against Weinstein in November 2017. Weinstein told The New York Times that he apologized for the behavior that “caused him so much pain,” though he denied acts of involuntary sex and retaliation to The New Yorker. Weinstein’s revelations helped spark the #MeToo movement, prompting accusations of sexual misconduct against dozens of other high-profile figures, including in the entertainment industry.

Interesting quote

“Before that night, I was a very happy, confident woman,” said the anonymous man #1 of Weinstein’s attack. “I used to value myself and the relationship I had with God. I was excited about my future. Everything changed after a defendant brutally assaulted me. There is no prison sentence long enough to repair the damage.”

to monitor

Weinstein appealed his conviction in New York last month, asking the New York Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction and instead suggesting that he be charged with a sex crime. Weinstein’s lawyers argued that the New York trial was unfair because Judge James Burke allowed prosecutors to use testimony about past incidents of alleged abuse unrelated to Weinstein’s charges and the courts succumbed to the “pressure” of the #MeToo movement.

Amazing fact

She saidIn theaters November 2022, the film chronicles the 2017 New York Times investigation into Weinstein abuse. The film stars Carey Mulligan as Megan Twohy and Zoe Kazan as Jodi Cantor. The film was released to positive reviews, but faced Difficulties at the box office.

the shadow

Weinstein’s sentencing Thursday came just hours after R&B singer R. Kelly, who also faced decades of sexual assault allegations, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. It serves largely concurrent with an earlier sentence, bringing his total prison sentence to 31. years.

Translated article from the American magazine Forbes – Author: Connor Murray

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