Harvey Weinstein admits he gave actresses roles in return for sex but denies raping them
Weinstein was arrested in May and charged with two counts of rape and one count of criminal sexual act – he pleaded not guilty to those charges
Shamed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein owned up to offering acting roles to women in exchange for sex – and says that’s still the norm in Hollywood.
“Yes, I did offer them acting jobs in exchange for sex, but so did and still does everyone,” Weinstein told Spectator USA. “But I never, ever forced myself on a single woman.”
Dozens of women have come forward since October to accuse Weinstein, 66, of sexual harassment, assault or rape. Weinstein has long denied through his reps that he ever engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.
The disgraced moviemaker also allegedly said Asia Argento – who has accused Weinstein of rape – and Rose McGowan had lied about Argento having an open relationship with her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain, according to the Spectator columnist who interviewed him, Taki Theodoracopulos. Bourdain took his own life in June.
McGowan penned a letter last month urging people not to blame Argento for Bourdain’s death. In that letter, she referred to Argento having an open relationship with the celebrity chef.
McGowan, who has also accused Weinstein of rape, has not addressed his assertion they lied about the open relationship, but refuted Weinstein’s claim about offering to trade movie roles for sex.
“Being that I was in the middle of my second film for his company, having NEVER met him before the morning of my rape, and never worked for him again, this is a clear lie,” McGowan tweeted. “Nice try, rapist.”
Weinstein’s lawyer Ben Brafman declined to comment when reached on the phone Friday by the Daily News.
Weinstein was arrested in May and charged with two counts of rape and one count of criminal sexual act. He pleaded not guilty to those charges, which stem from allegations made by Lucia Evans and at least one other woman.
He was then charged with two counts of felony predatory sexual assault and a count of criminal sex act in a third sexual assault case earlier this month. He has plead not guilty for those charges as well.
