Harvey Weinstein fired over sexual harassment claims

Film producer Harvey Weinstein has been fired
following claims he sexually harassed female
employees over several decades.
The movie production firm he co-founded, The
Weinstein Company, said in a statement that its co-
chairman's employment had been "terminated,
effective immediately".
It said its board of directors made the decision "in
light of new information about misconduct by Harvey
Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days".
Weinstein had taken a voluntary leave of absence
after the allegations were detailed in The New York
Times last week.
The producer and his wife Georgina Chapman at
the Cannes Film Festival in 2015
In a statement, Weinstein conceded causing "a lot of
pain" and asked for "a second chance", blaming his
actions on the workplace culture in the '60s and
'70s.
But he and his lawyers have also criticised the New
York Times report, vowing an aggressive response.
The company's board endorsed Weinstein's leave on
Friday, but went further on Sunday night, sacking the
65-year-old from the firm.
And a report in the entertainment website The Wrap
said the company is considering changing its name
following the allegations.
Actress Ashley Judd is among Harvey
Weinstein's accusers
The Oscar-winning Weinstein was one of Hollywood's
most powerful producers.
He made his name with Miramax, the company he
founded with his brother Bob in 1979 and which was
eventually sold to Disney.
Miramax helped launch the careers of filmmakers
including Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh,
winning Oscars for best picture with Shakespeare In
Love and The English Patient.
The Weinstein Company, which the two brothers
founded in 2005, produced hits including The King's
Speech, Django Unchained and Silver Linings
Playbook.
Queen Elizabeth II meets Harvey Weinstein at
Buckingham Palace in 2014
Also on Sunday, Donald Trump got involved in the
scandal, saying he was "not at all surprised" to see
the allegations of sexual misconduct made against
Weinstein.
As he boarded a helicopter at the White House, the
US President told reporters : "I've known Harvey
Weinstein a long time... I'm not at all surprised to see
it."
Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Georgina
Chapman and Harvey Weinstein in 2009
The comments coincide with the anniversary of the
publication of the 2005 Access Hollywood video in
which Mr Trump boasted about grabbing women's
genitals.
The President again dismissed the tape's contents as
typical male bragging, saying - as he did at the time -
"that's locker room talks".
His intervention comes after Weinstein's latest
accuser, TV presenter Lauren Sivan, claimed he
cornered her in a Manhattan restaurant in 2007 and
tried to kiss her.
When she refused, he said: "Well, can you just stand
there and shut up." He then allegedly performed a
sex act in front of her.
She joins other women, including actors Ashley Judd
and Rose McGowan, in accusing the film producer of
sexual harassment stretching back years.
Rose McGowan has also made allegations
against the producer
In another blow to Weinstein, his lawyer, Lisa Bloom,
has quit representing him.
In a statement issued on Thursday, he apologised for
his conduct , saying: "I appreciate the way I've
behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot
of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it.
"Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long
way to go."
Weinstein is married to British fashion designer
Georgina Chapman. The couple have two children.
Weinstein also has three children from his previous
marriage.

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