- Film producer Harvey Weinstein, who faces trial on allegations of rape and sexual assault against numerous women, has broken his two-year silence in an interview with the New York Post.
- Weinstein said he should be remembered as the man who "pioneered" women in Hollywood, and that allegations of sexual assault against him have ruined his legacy.
- "It all got eviscerated because of what happened. My work has been forgotten," he said on Friday. "I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker, and I'm talking about 30 years ago."
- "I want this city to recognize who I was instead of what I've become," Weinstein said, referring to allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by 30 actresses and former employees.
- Weinstein will stand trial on rape and sexual assault charges on January 6 at Manhattan Supreme Court.
- On Wednesday, Weinstein's lawyers reached a tentative $25 million civil deal with dozens of women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
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Harvey Weinstein has spoken out for the first time since allegations of sexual impropriety and rape emerged against him, defending himself, and saying he has done more for women in Hollywood than anyone else.
"I feel like the forgotten man," Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, ranging from sexual harassment to rape, by 30 actresses and Weinstein Company employees, told the New York Post on Friday.
"I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker, and I'm talking about 30 years ago. I'm not talking about now when it's vogue. I did it first! I pioneered it!
"It all got eviscerated because of what happened. My work has been forgotten.''
Weinstein was interviewed at the New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was recovering from spinal surgery, the Post said.
Weinstein touted the actor Gwyneth Paltrow as an example of his gendered altruism whilst he headed the movie studio Miramax.
"Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003 got $10 million to make a movie called 'View from the Top,'" he said. "She was the highest-paid female actor in an independent film. Higher paid than all the men."
Paltrow has accused Weinstein of trying to massage her in 1994 when she was 22 years old.
The Post said that during the interview Weinstein refused to answer any questions about specific allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and rape, and threatened to shut the interview down if they asked.
"I want this city to recognize who I was instead of what I've become," Weinstein said, referring vaguely to the allegations.
Weinstein was first accused publicly in October 5, 2017, after The New York Times published testimony from actors Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.
Weinstein is not the first to try and save his reputation as a filmmaker from the fallout.
Actor Judi Dench defended Weinstein's work in June. "Are we just not going to see all those films that Harvey produced? You cannot deny somebody a talent," Dench said.
Weinstein's first trial on rape and sexual assault charges is set for January 6 at Manhattan's Supreme Court.
Asides from criminal charges, on Wednesday Weinstein's lawyers reached a tentative $25 million civil deal with dozens of women accusing him of sexual misconduct.
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