Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie claim that Harvey Weinstein harassed them in the 1990s
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Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow have both claimed that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed them in the 1990s.
The Oscar-winning actresses are the most high profile stars to allege that the film producer made unwanted advances towards them at the beginning of their careers.
In an interview with the New York Times, Paltrow claimed that Weinstein acted inappropriately towards her during a meeting in his suite at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel after she’d been given the lead role in Emma at the age of 22.
According to the actress, Weinstein placed his hands on her and suggested that they go to the bedroom for “massages”, which she refused to do.
“I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified,” she said. “I thought he was going to fire me.”
Paltrow said that she confided in then boyfriend Brad Pitt, who subsequently confronted Weinstein about the incident.
She claims that Weinstein then told her not to discuss the incident with anyone else, prompting fears that she would lose her job on the film.
Paltrow claimed that he phoned her and "screamed" at her in a "brutal" way.
She added: "We’re at a point in time when women need to send a clear message that this is over. This way of treating women ends now.”
Jolie said that Weinstein also made unwanted advances towards her during the release of her 90s film, Playing by Heart.
“I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did,” she said in an email to the New York Times.
“This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.”
According to the Times, actress Rosanna Arquette and Judith Godrèche shared similar experiences with the producer.
On Tuesday, three actresses told the New Yorker that that they had been raped by Weinstein, including actress Asia Argento, claims which he unequivocally denies.
A statement from Weinstein’s spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister said: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.
“Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.
“Mr. Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.
“Mr. Weinstein will not be available for further comments. He is taking the time to focus on his family, on getting counseling and rebuilding his life.”
