Mimi Haleyi Claims Harvey Weinstein Forcibly Performed Oral Sex On Her

A woman who worked as a production assistant on a Weinstein Company-produced television show has come forward with claims that she was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Mimi Haleyi, together with her lawyer Gloria Allred, claimed the former studio head forcibly performed oral sex on her while she was on her period.

Haleyi claimed during a Tuesday press conference that the incident occurred at Weinstein’s home in New York City in 2006, the New York Post reported. She said that while refusing Weinstein’s sexual advances, she used her menstrual cycle as an excuse. Weinstein then allegedly took her to a room where he overpowered her, removed her tampon and proceed to perform oral sex, she said.

“He wouldn’t take no for an answer and backed me into a room which was not lit, but looked like a kids’ bedroom with kids’ drawings on the walls,” Haleyi said. “He was extremely persistent and physically overpowering. He then orally forced himself on me, while I was on my period. He even pulled my tampon out. I was mortified. I was in disbelief and disgusted. I would not have wanted anyone to do that to me, even if that person had been a romantic partner.”

She added: “I remember Harvey afterward rolling over onto his back and saying, ‘Don’t you feel we’re so much closer to each other now?’ I replied, ‘No.’”

It wasn’t the first time Weinstein had acted inappropriately toward her, she said. Another incident occurred at Cannes Film Festival in 2006, when Weinstein allegedly asked her up to his hotel room and requested she give him a massage, which she declined. Haleyi had reportedly been delivered to Weinstein’s hotel room by an assistant while under the presumption they would be discussing work.

“Harvey asked if I’d give him a massage. I said, ‘No sorry, I’m not a masseuse,’ and I suggested he contact hotel reception,” Haleyi said. “At that time, I was crying because I felt humiliated.”

While Haleyi did not disclose exactly how old she was at the time of the alleged attack, she was reportedly in her 20s. She agreed to meet with Weinstein after the hotel incident to establish a professional relationship in hopes of breaking into the entertainment industry.

Her story is strikingly similar to those of more than 50 women who have claimed they were sexually harassed or assaulted by the disgraced film producer. Women who have come forward with allegations against Weinstein include Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie, Cara Delevingne and dozens of others.

A rep for the former studio executive previously stated that “allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.” Reps for the movie mogul now are now claiming that in some reports of alleged misconduct, Weinstein has “a different recollection of the events.”