Harvey Weinstein is Nearly Blind and Has Lost His Teeth, His Lawyer Claims
Harvey Weinstein is Nearly Blind and Has Lost His Teeth, His Lawyer Claims
Over the past few years, the world has watched the fall of Harvey Weinstein. The decades-long catalog of s*xual abuse, of which he was accused, sparked the global #MeToo movement, with several celebrities coming forward about their own experiences with Weinstein - forcing people to finally open their eyes to the abuse that goes on in Hollywood.
Now, it seems things are getting even worse for Weinstein...
It was in 2017 when allegations against Hollywood giant, Harvey Weinstein, first emerged publically.
It all started when The New York Times published a story detailing decades worth of allegations of sexual harassment against Weinstein.
Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were among the women who came forward about the film producer, the BBC reports.
The accusations were truly disturbing.
Among the accusations were that he forced female employees to massage him and watch him naked. He was also accused of offering to help them further their careers in exchange for sexual favors.
At the time, Weinstein disputed these claims.
Weinstein issued an apology stating he "has caused a lot of pain" but denied that he harassed female employees over a thirty-year time frame. Following this, he took a leave of absence, and days later it was revealed that he had been sacked by the board of his company, The Weinstein Company.
Many people came forward about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Weinstein.
British actress, Romola Garai, told the Guardian that she felt "violated" when Weinstein auditioned her when she was eighteen, stating that he had answered the door to his hotel room in a bathrobe. Hollywood A-listers including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie also said they were harassed by Weinstein.
And they weren't alone...
Allegations from thirteen more women were published in the New Yorker magazine, including 3 accusations of r*pe, which Weinstein maintained his innocence on.
The accusations against him began mounting up.
Lupita Nyong’o writes in @nytopinion: What Harvey Weinstein did to me https://t.co/jYAivJTxCo https://t.co/C7qCzQpfFG— The New York Times (@The New York Times)1508731952.0
And many other big players in Hollywood admitted they knew about his misconduct and treatment of women.
In late 2017, Quentin Tarantino admitted he knew about Harvey Weinstein's treatment toward women for years. "I knew enough to do more than I did," the film director told the New York Times.
It was also claimed that Weinstein used private investigators to cover up sexual abuse claims.
With countless allegations against him dating as far back as the '70s.
Weinstein's downfall marked a real shift in Hollywood.
It was one of the first times where a man of such high profile was starting to be held accountable for s*xual assault.
And of course, it sparked the beginning of the global #MeToo movement.
Including the red carpet blackout at the 2018 Golden Globes in solidarity with the victims of Weinstein's abuse.
In November 2017, around a month since allegations against Weinstein first surfaced...
The police in New York announced they actually had a case against him.
On 25 May 2018, Weinstein turned himself into New York police on s*xual misconduct charges.
According to the BBC, days later, a grand jury in New York indicted him on charges of rape and a criminal sexual act, moving the case towards a trial. One of those women was later identified as the former actress, Lucia Evans, who says she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 2004.
After decades worth of allegations, on 6 January 2020, the trial process began.
Weinstein faced 5 counts for alleged non-consensual encounters.
The counts were 1 count of r*pe in the first degree, 1 count of r*pe in the third degree, 1 count of a criminal s*xual act in the first degree, and 2 counts of predatory s*xual assault.
Prosecutor Meghan Hast said he was a "seasoned" s*xual predator.
She gave details of allegations by 3 women, 2 of whom are on the charge sheet.
Former Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra was among the 6 women called to testify.
She said Weinstein r*ped her at her home twenty-five years ago, after having forced himself into her apartment and attacking her.
Actress Jessica Mann also took to the stand.
Mann stated that he once trapped her in a hotel bedroom and r*ped her.
3 of the 5 charges against Weinstein related to Mann.
Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted r*pist. He was found guilty on 24 February 2020.
BREAKING: A New York jury has found Harvey Weinstein guilty on two counts - criminal sexual act in the first degree… https://t.co/lBKcsz0OZW— TIME'S UP (@TIME'S UP)1582565023.0
The jury found Weinstein guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree r*pe.
The verdict came after 5 days of deliberations.
The jury of 7 men and 5 women at the New York supreme court took 5 days to reach their verdict, The Guardian reports.
What do the charges mean?
New York law states third-degree r*pe is when a "person is guilty of rape in the third degree, when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person:
Who is incapable of consent by reason of some factor other than being less than 17 years old.
Who is less than 17 years old, and the defendant is 21 years old or more.
Or without such person's consent, which is withheld for some other reason than incapacity to consent."
His third-degree r*pe conviction carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison and no minimum.
Although, it does require Weinstein to register as a sex offender.
As for his conviction for "criminal s*xual act in the first degree"...
New York law states that criminal sexual act in the first degree when he or she engages in o*** sexual conduct or a*** sexual conduct with another person: By forcible compulsion; or Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless; or Who is less than eleven years old; or Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen years old or more."
Weinstein was acquitted of the most serious charges of predatory s*xual assault, however.
He had denied all charges.
His conviction in New York marked a historical moment for all of the women he took advantage of for decades.
Harvey Weinstein is now a CONVICTED rapist and he has just been led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. To all of th… https://t.co/ChKJzpVDop— Ryan Knight ☭ (@Ryan Knight ☭)1582565410.0
"No matter how powerful a person is, no matter how much mud or dirt may be flung at those who have the courage to come forward, we are in a new time. The #MeToo era has thankfully started to unmask these systems of abuse of power, and now women can be heard and believed," said Michelle Simpson Tuegel, an attorney representing victims of s*xual assault.
It's about time these powerful men were held accountable.
More than eighty women, including famous actresses, had accused Weinstein of s*xual misconduct stretching back decades.
His verdict was celebrated on social media.
found myself emotional + so grateful for this... not just for the women who were grossly abused by harvey f. weinst… https://t.co/ECYEPKItmN— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her))1582638348.0
Weinstein's victims were among those reacting to the news online.
For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and… https://t.co/CnW2iOraZn— ashley judd (@ashley judd)1582565589.0
Italian actress and director Asia Argento, another of his accusers, spoke out on Instagram.
"Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist."
Weinstein is now where he belongs... behind bars.
The most powerful man in Hollywood, home at last. #HarveyWeinstein https://t.co/oyYjEeWLZe— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington)1582638272.0
But the latest update suggests things are getting even worse for the disgraced mogul.
He's set to be extradited to Los Angeles, but lawyer Norman Effman argued against this for "humanitarian" reasons.
Effman claims Weinstein is technically blind and is losing his teeth, TMZ reports.
He's also suffering cardiac issues, diabetes, back pain, and sleep apnea.
Make sure to stay posted for updates.
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