The unexpected overturning of producer Harvey Weinstein’s conviction in New York has sparked outrage from both Hollywood stars and his accusers, including Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino.
The film industry has responded with disbelief to the news that the disgraced movie mogul’s rape conviction has been reversed by a New York court. Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in 2020 for two counts of sexual assault, saw his conviction overturned by a court of appeals, which deemed the trial unfair.
Weinstein will remain behind bars following a separate conviction of rape in Los Angeles, where he was sentenced to 16 years.
Ashley Judd, one of Weinstein’s early accusers, expressed her frustration to the New York Times, stating, “That is unfair to survivors. We still live in our truth. And we know what happened.” Speaking at a press conference later, she remarked, “This is what it’s like to be a woman in America, living with male entitlement to our bodies.”
Rosanna Arquette, another accuser, shared her disappointment with the Hollywood Reporter, saying, “Harvey was rightfully convicted. It’s unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed.”
Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of raping her, conveyed in a video statement: “No matter what they overturn, they cannot take away who we are and what we know, what we’ve gone through and what we can achieve in this life. We are not victims. We are people that were injured by evil.”
Katherine Kendall, another accuser who accused Weinstein of harassment, expressed her astonishment, stating she was “flabbergasted.”
Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, who had previously stated that Weinstein sexually harassed her and hindered her career, expressed her shock and disgust, posting that she was “horrified” and “disgusted” with a justice system that seems to favor “predators over victims.”
Actor, author, and activist Amber Tamblyn denounced the decision as “a loss to the entire community of women who put their lives and careers on the line to speak out.”
Ellen Barkin, who alleged that Weinstein verbally abused her during the production of 1992’s Into the West, labeled the reversal as an “outrage.”
Rosie Perez, who testified at the Weinstein trial and conveyed her friend Annabella Sciorra’s allegation of rape by him, reacted on Twitter, expressing her disbelief with “WTF!”
Tarana Burke, recognized as the founder of the #MeToo movement, emphasized the significance of movements in response to the news, stating that “moments like this underscore why movements are necessary.”
A statement from Weinstein initially described his state as “cautiously excited” before later characterizing it as “a great day for America.”
The flood of stories recounting alleged encounters with Weinstein sparked the #MeToo movement in 2017, with more than 80 women eventually accusing him of various acts of sexual assault and harassment.