Late last week, Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by The New York Times.
In a bombshell report that cited eight settlements over the years, and which quoted multiple alleged victims, the newspaper detailed how the movie producer spent decades preying on young women in Hollywood.
But here’s the thing about this bombshell report:
It wasn’t really a bombshell. Not to those remotely familiar with rumors over Weinstein’s boorish behavior throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
The producer himself even basically acknowledged his sordid past… via a weird and rambling pseudo apology.
Over the weekend, meanwhile, Weinstein was fired from the company he helped build.
In light of these serious allegations, legendary actress Meryl Streep issued a statement to The Huffington Post through her longtime publicist.
It reads:
“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.”
Streep worked with Weinstein on August: Osage County and The Iron Lady.
And she’s adamant that she didn’t just keep her mouth shut when it came to chatter over his abhorrent ways with women.
She was not complicit in any of this, Streep insists.
“One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew, she writes, adding:
“Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally.
“I didn’t know about these other offenses: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts.
“And if everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it.”
Among the most damning and public accusations:
Ashley Judd says Weinstein answered his hotel room door in a bathrobe and asked her to watch him shower.
A reporter claims Weinstein masturbated in front of her.
The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar,” Streep says, adding that “each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited” in the media “will ultimately change the game.”
Elsewhere, Judi Dench once said she has a tattoo on her butt in honor of Weinstein.
But she has also come out in strong terms against him.
“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,” the 82-year-old actress told The Sun.
“I offer my sympathy those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.”
Weinstein and his lawyer have said they will sue The New York Times for $ 50 million due to the publication making “false and defamatory statements.”
The guy just really sucks.