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 After an initial statement in which Weinstein
apologized for his behavior, his attorney Charles J. Harder
subsequently put out a statement saying the newspaper's story
was defamatory because it relied on “mostly hearsay accounts and
a faulty report.”
The New York Times reported that Weinstein, 65, had reached
eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who made
allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact.
New York Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said the
newspaper was confident about its reporting, adding that
Weinstein "was aware and able to respond to specific allegations
in our story before publication."
The alleged victims included an actress, a model and two
assistants and their allegations spanned almost 30 years, the
newspaper reported.
Reuters has not independently confirmed the New York Times
report. Weinstein has not been charged with any crimes.
"I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past
has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.
Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go,"
Weinstein said in his initial statement to the New York Times
that was also given to Reuters by his lawyers.
"I've brought on therapists and I plan to take a leave of
absence from my company and to deal with this issue head on,"
said Weinstein, whose Oscar-winning films include "Shakespeare
in Love" and "Chicago."
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One of the women interviewed by the New York Times was "Double
Jeopardy" actress and singer Ashley Judd.
The report quoted Judd as saying that two decades ago she had a
meeting with Weinstein in his Beverly Hills hotel room where he
asked if he could give her a massage or if she could watch him
shower.
Judd's representatives did not immediately return requests from
Reuters for comment.
Weinstein and his brother Bob formed independent movie studio
Miramax in 1979. They later sold it and in 2005 set up The Weinstein
Company.
Weinstein, who is married to Marchesa label fashion designer
Georgina Chapman, is the latest U.S. media titan to be accused of
sexual harassment.
The late Fox News chief Roger Ailes was forced out of the company in
July 2016 after being accused of sexual harassment, which he denied.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Toni
Reinhold)
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