We all heard the horrifying story of what Harvey Weinstein allegedly did to his former assistant. But, as you can imagine, the 65-year-old former mega-producer had multiple assistants over the years.
One of those assistants, Sandeep Rehal, is now suing over the way that she says Harvey Weinstein treated her. This goes beyond what most of us think of as workplace sexual harassment.
The accusation that she says that she was regularly required to clean up semen and condoms, which is gross, barely scratches the surface.
TMZ reports that Sandeep Rehal is suing Harvey Weinstein and also Rob Weinstein for “unspecified damages.”
She says that she started working as Harvey Weinstein’s personal assistant in 2013.
According to her accusations, while she worked as his assistant, if they sat together in a car, he would rub her between her thighs.
She describes how he would allegedly press against her when they walked, and use derogatory language to refer to her — calling her things like “c–t” and “p–sy.”
Sandeep accuses Harvey Weinstein of repeatedly using the line:
“What’s wrong Sandeep, is the tampon up too far today?”
Obviously, that’s inexcusable to say under any circumstances, because it’s sexist and vile. In a workplace environment, it’s normally a reason to go to HR.
She also describes Harvey Weinstein in a way that matches the description of him as a leering, power-mad ogre that we’ve heard so much, saying that he was fond of the phrase:
“I am Harvey Weinstein and you are at Weinstein University. I decide whether or not you graduate.”
And then it gets worse.
Sandeep says that Harvey Weinstein had her manage an updated list of “available women” for his sexual conquests.
She did even more to facilitate that, making sure that he was stocked with Caverject shots for erectile dysfunction.
To be clear, TMZ isn’t suggesting that Sandeep is saying that she helped him plan Weinstein’s alleged rapes of various actresses. Just that she managed his itinerary.
But then comes what might be the grossest part that doesn’t involve Weinstein touching or speaking to her.
She says that she was regularly required to clean semen from Harvey Weinstein’s couch, and to pick up his used condoms. Ewww.
She also had to obtain clean underwear for him, but out of context, getting clothes for your boss is often a pretty standard job for personal assistants.
(In context … it’s still icky)
In response, Harvey Weinstein’s representation tells TMZ:
“Mr. Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue.”
So, your pretty standard denial. A little different from the “remembering things differently” line that came out in response to Lupita Nyong’o’s disturbing story.
“The evidence will show these claims for money are in the realm of a science fiction movie.”
Sandeep Rehal isn’t even the only woman suing, of course. It sounds like Weinstein’s lawyers are going to be very, very busy.
There has been backlash against the #MeToo movement, mostly by men who think think that each of the accused is being portrayed as being equal to the others.
(They aren’t; people have been very clear that James Franco is no Harvey Weinstein, because of course he isn’t)
And then there are the usual irritating defenses — reductions to the absurd like “what, I can’t talk to women anymore?” to which most of us just want to respond: “If that’s your takeaway, then yes.” Because if you can’t tell the difference between talking to a woman and saying inappropriate things to her, you shouldn’t be talking to anyone.
But even the most devoted contrarians seem to agree that Harvey Weinstein sounds horrifying.
He was the string that was pulled to unravel so many sex monsters.
