Harvey Weinstein Reportedly Reaches $25 Million Deal With Sexual Assault Victims
Disgraced former film mogul Harvey Weinstein, along with his bankrupt film studio, have reached a tentative $25 million agreement with dozens of victims who have accused him of sexual assault.
The New York Times reported that Weinstein will not have to admit to any wrongdoing or pay any of his own money as part of the agreement. The payments will be made by the insurance companies of his production studio. In order for the deal to be finalized, all parties must sign off on the agreement and the court must approve the settlement.
“We reject the notion that this was the best settlement that could have been achieved on behalf of the victims," Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for at least two of Weinstein's alleged victims, said about the settlement.
“While we don’t begrudge victims who want to settle, we plan to vigorously object to any provision that tries to bind victims who want to proceed with holding Harvey Weinstein accountable for his actions which is exactly what we intend to do,” he later added.
Weinstein has claimed that sexual activity with his accusers was consensual. Over 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault, harassment or rape since the New York Times reported on his sexual misconduct in 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel in 2013 or that he coerced a woman into a sex act at his Tribeca office in 2004.
Weinstein is still expected to face a criminal trial in January due to charges of predatory sexual assault and rape.
The 2017 reporting on Weinstein's misconduct helped set off the #Metoo movement, where high-profile figures in the entertainment and media industries have been fired or charged for various sexual assault or harassment allegations. Comedians Aziz Ansari and Louis C.K., former NBC "Today Show" anchor Matt Lauer and Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey are just some of the many celebrities who have been accused of misconduct.
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