<p>Ever since the Harvey Weinstein was accused by nearly 60 women of sexual harassment and assault, Hollywood has been openly discussing the topic. Many of the other actors have been accused of sexual misconduct including Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman. Closer home, Swara Bhaskar has now joined in the discussion and expressed how both men and women are vulnerable to harassment at workplace in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Swara Bhaskar recalled how a director had stalked her on a film set during her initial days in the film industry. &quot;During a 56-day outdoor shoot at a remote location when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites. He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing a scene and would find him drinking. During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex, and one night, he arrived in my room, drunk and asking to be hugged. It was scary!&rdquo;<br />
<br />
Things settled down for a bit when Swara threatened to leave the film set. But she got only a temporary respite as he went back to his ways. &quot;I finally confided in the executive producer and made sure that I was escorted everywhere,&quot; said the actress.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
According to Bhaskar, film sets often work in feudal, hierarchical ways making conditions on the sets ripe for sexual harassment. &quot; Victims can be easily silenced,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;Women are often eve-teased on films sets and cat-calling is also prevalent. &quot;There is lack of security for women on film sets.&quot;<br />
<br />
According to Swara the best way to deal with such harassment is to &quot;lose the part but don&#39;t get on the couch.&quot;&nbsp;Swara is currently shooting for Veere Di Wedding which also co-stars Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.&nbsp;</p>


Swara Bhaskar recalled how a director had stalked her on a film set during her initial days in the film industry

Ever since the Harvey Weinstein was accused by nearly 60 women of sexual harassment and assault, Hollywood has been openly discussing the topic. Many of the other actors have been accused of sexual misconduct including Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman. Closer home, Swara Bhaskar has now joined in the discussion and expressed how both men and women are vulnerable to harassment at workplace in India. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Swara Bhaskar recalled how a director had stalked her on a film set during her initial days in the film industry. "During a 56-day outdoor shoot at a remote location when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites. He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing a scene and would find him drinking. During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex, and one night, he arrived in my room, drunk and asking to be hugged. It was scary!” Things settled down for a bit when Swara threatened to leave the film set. But she got only a temporary respite as he went back to his ways. "I finally confided in the executive producer and made sure that I was escorted everywhere," said the actress. According to Bhaskar, film sets often work in feudal, hierarchical ways making conditions on the sets ripe for sexual harassment. " Victims can be easily silenced,” she added. Women are often eve-teased on films sets and cat-calling is also prevalent. "There is lack of security for women on film sets." According to Swara the best way to deal with such harassment is to "lose the part but don't get on the couch." Swara is currently shooting for Veere Di Wedding which also co-stars Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.

Swara Bhaskar on sexual harassment in Bollywood: Lose the part but don't get on the couch

<p>Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him, The New Yorker reported Monday.<br />
<br />
The news came as the Television Academy, which hands out Emmy Awards, was said to have expelled Weinstein &quot;for life,&quot; following a similar move by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives out the Oscars.<br />
<br />
Among the private security agencies hired by Weinstein starting around fall 2016, the magazine said, was Black Cube, which is largely run by former officers of Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad. Another was corporate intelligence giant Kroll.<br />
<br />
Two Black Cube private eyes met with actress Rose McGowan -- before she publicly accused Weinstein of raping her -- to obtain information.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
One of the investigators secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan while pretending to be a women`s rights advocates, said the magazine, citing dozens of pages of documents and seven people directly involved in Weinstein`s efforts.<br />
<br />
The spy used a different fake identity to meet with a journalist while claiming to have an accusation against Weinstein, in order to learn which women were talking to the media.<br />
Weinstein and the private eyes also used journalists themselves to extract details from women who were making claims against Weinstein.<br />
<br />
During his yearlong effort, Weinstein and his team would collect information on dozens of people, compiling psychological profiles with their personal or sexual histories in order to contradict, discredit or intimidate his targets.<br />
<br />
The New Yorker said Weinstein sought the assistance of ex-employees from his movie enterprises to help in his efforts collecting names and placing calls.<br />
<br />
Investigations also sometimes went through Weinstein`s lawyers, according to the magazine. Among them was David Boies, who represented Al Gore in his 2000 presidential election dispute with George W. Bush.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The New Yorker said Boies himself had signed a contract demanding that Black Cube seek to uncover information to stop the publication of a New York Times story about Weinstein`s sexual abuse at the same time his firm was also representing the Times in a libel case.<br />
<br />
Boies told the magazine &quot;it was a mistake&quot; to have been involved with the investigators.</p>

<p>Weinstein`s spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister dismissed the report, saying: &quot;It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.&quot;<br />
<br />
Neither Hofmeister nor Boies immediately responded to requests for comment.Police launched investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York after around 100 women accused Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, industry publication Variety said the Television Academy has voted to permanently expel Weinstein.<br />
<br />
&quot;The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue,&quot; it told Variety, adding that it was reviewing the organization`s code of conduct.<br />
<br />
&quot;The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behaviour are deeply disturbing to the Academy`s leadership.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment.&quot;</p>


Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him.

Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him, The New Yorker reported Monday. The news came as the Television Academy, which hands out Emmy Awards, was said to have expelled Weinstein "for life," following a similar move by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives out the Oscars. Among the private security agencies hired by Weinstein starting around fall 2016, the magazine said, was Black Cube, which is largely run by former officers of Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad. Another was corporate intelligence giant Kroll. Two Black Cube private eyes met with actress Rose McGowan -- before she publicly accused Weinstein of raping her -- to obtain information. One of the investigators secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan while pretending to be a women`s rights advocates, said the magazine, citing dozens of pages of documents and seven people directly involved in Weinstein`s efforts. The spy used a different fake identity to meet with a journalist while claiming to have an accusation against Weinstein, in order to learn which women were talking to the media. Weinstein and the private eyes also used journalists themselves to extract details from women who were making claims against Weinstein. During his yearlong effort, Weinstein and his team would collect information on dozens of people, compiling psychological profiles with their personal or sexual histories in order to contradict, discredit or intimidate his targets. The New Yorker said Weinstein sought the assistance of ex-employees from his movie enterprises to help in his efforts collecting names and placing calls. Investigations also sometimes went through Weinstein`s lawyers, according to the magazine. Among them was David Boies, who represented Al Gore in his 2000 presidential election dispute with George W. Bush. The New Yorker said Boies himself had signed a contract demanding that Black Cube seek to uncover information to stop the publication of a New York Times story about Weinstein`s sexual abuse at the same time his firm was also representing the Times in a libel case. Boies told the magazine "it was a mistake" to have been involved with the investigators. Weinstein`s spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister dismissed the report, saying: "It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time." Neither Hofmeister nor Boies immediately responded to requests for comment.Police launched investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York after around 100 women accused Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape. Meanwhile, industry publication Variety said the Television Academy has voted to permanently expel Weinstein. "The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue," it told Variety, adding that it was reviewing the organization`s code of conduct. "The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behaviour are deeply disturbing to the Academy`s leadership. "We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment."

Harvey Weinstein had 'army of spies' to thwart complaints

<p>Netflix Inc severed ties on Friday with Kevin Spacey, one of its biggest stars and the lead in its popular drama &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kevin-spacey-losing-netflix-show-after-underage-sexual-misconduct-allegation-23165">House of Cards</a>,&quot; after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct against the Oscar-winning actor.</p>

<p>The streaming company suspended production earlier this week of the upcoming sixth and final season of the political intrigue drama, in which Spacey plays US&nbsp;president Frank Underwood.</p>

<p>&quot;Netflix will not be involved with any further production of &#39;House of Cards&#39; that includes Kevin Spacey,&quot; the company said in a statement late on Friday.</p>

<p>Spacey&#39;s publicist cut ties with him on Thursday and it was not known who currently represents him.</p>

<p>His departure may not mean the end of the show, however.</p>

<p>&quot;While we continue the ongoing investigation into the serious allegations concerning Kevin Spacey&rsquo;s behavior on the set of &#39;House of Cards,&#39; he has been suspended, effective immediately,&quot; Media Rights Capital, the company that produces the show, said in a statement.</p>

<p>&quot;MRC, in partnership with Netflix, will continue to evaluate a creative path forward for the program during the hiatus,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>The Netflix statement also said the company will work with MRC to determine the show&#39;s future.</p>

<p>Spacey, who has had a successful career in film, television, and theater, is one of the several big names in the entertainment business to be accused of sexual misconduct by people coming forward in the wake of allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.</p>

<p>Spacey apologized last weekend to actor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/anthony-rapp-was-encouraged-to-speak-out-about-kevin-spacey-after-the-weinstein-controversy-23130">Anthony Rapp</a>, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. CNN reported on Thursday that eight current and former employees of &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/several-house-of-cards-employees-allege-kevin-spacey-made-environment-toxic-23447">House of Cards</a>,&quot; who were not identified, alleged sexual misconduct against Spacey.</p>

<p>Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the accusations.</p>

<p>Spacey, as part of his apology to Rapp, announced he was gay, which angered many in the LGBT community and beyond who saw his announcement as an effort to divert attention from the accusation by Rapp.</p>

<p>Spacey has sought evaluation and treatment, his representatives said in a statement on Wednesday, without providing details on the nature of the treatment.</p>

<p>The announcement that he would seek treatment followed harassment allegations against him this week by Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos, who worked in the London theater where Spacey was an artistic director from 2004-2015, and US&nbsp;filmmaker Tony Montana.</p>

<p>MRC said in a statement on Thursday it had handled one incident in 2012 in which a crew member it did not identify &quot;shared a complaint about a specific remark and gesture made by Kevin Spacey&quot; and that immediate action had been taken and the issue was resolved.</p>

<p>It said Spacey had &quot;willingly participated in a training process&quot; and that it was not aware of any complaints since then involving the actor.</p>

<p>Netflix&#39;s move to cut ties with Spacey went beyond &quot;House of Cards.&quot;</p>

<p>The company will not release the film &quot;Gore,&quot; which was in post-production and was produced by Spacey, its statement said. Spacey plays the late writer Gore Vidal.</p>


Netflix Inc severed ties on Friday with Kevin Spacey, one of its biggest stars and the lead in its popular drama "House of Cards," after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct against the Oscar-winning actor.

Netflix Inc severed ties on Friday with Kevin Spacey, one of its biggest stars and the lead in its popular drama "House of Cards," after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct against the Oscar-winning actor. The streaming company suspended production earlier this week of the upcoming sixth and final season of the political intrigue drama, in which Spacey plays US president Frank Underwood. "Netflix will not be involved with any further production of 'House of Cards' that includes Kevin Spacey," the company said in a statement late on Friday. Spacey's publicist cut ties with him on Thursday and it was not known who currently represents him. His departure may not mean the end of the show, however. "While we continue the ongoing investigation into the serious allegations concerning Kevin Spacey’s behavior on the set of 'House of Cards,' he has been suspended, effective immediately," Media Rights Capital, the company that produces the show, said in a statement. "MRC, in partnership with Netflix, will continue to evaluate a creative path forward for the program during the hiatus," it said. The Netflix statement also said the company will work with MRC to determine the show's future. Spacey, who has had a successful career in film, television, and theater, is one of the several big names in the entertainment business to be accused of sexual misconduct by people coming forward in the wake of allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Spacey apologized last weekend to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. CNN reported on Thursday that eight current and former employees of "House of Cards," who were not identified, alleged sexual misconduct against Spacey. Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the accusations. Spacey, as part of his apology to Rapp, announced he was gay, which angered many in the LGBT community and beyond who saw his announcement as an effort to divert attention from the accusation by Rapp. Spacey has sought evaluation and treatment, his representatives said in a statement on Wednesday, without providing details on the nature of the treatment. The announcement that he would seek treatment followed harassment allegations against him this week by Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos, who worked in the London theater where Spacey was an artistic director from 2004-2015, and US filmmaker Tony Montana. MRC said in a statement on Thursday it had handled one incident in 2012 in which a crew member it did not identify "shared a complaint about a specific remark and gesture made by Kevin Spacey" and that immediate action had been taken and the issue was resolved. It said Spacey had "willingly participated in a training process" and that it was not aware of any complaints since then involving the actor. Netflix's move to cut ties with Spacey went beyond "House of Cards." The company will not release the film "Gore," which was in post-production and was produced by Spacey, its statement said. Spacey plays the late writer Gore Vidal.

Netflix drops Kevin Spacey from 'House of Cards' after sexual misconduct allegations

<p>Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behaviour.</p>

<p>In an interview yesterday with The Associated Press for the superhero film <em>Justice League</em>,&nbsp;Affleck said he&#39;s &quot;looking at my own behaviour and addressing that and making sure I&#39;m part of the solution.&quot;<br />
After condemning Harvey Weinstein&#39;s actions last month, Affleck was forced to defend his own conduct.<br />
<br />
He apologised for groping the actress Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 when she was a host on MTV&#39;s <em>Total Request Live.</em>&nbsp;Another video from 2004 showed Affleck pulling Montreal TV host Anne-Marie Losique onto his lap.<br />
<br />
Speaking yesterday, Affleck said two things need to happen, that &quot;more women need to be pushed to power&quot; and that sexual harassment has to also be &quot;a men&#39;s issue&quot; where guys call out inappropriate behaviour.</p>


Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behaviour.

Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behaviour. In an interview yesterday with The Associated Press for the superhero film Justice League, Affleck said he's "looking at my own behaviour and addressing that and making sure I'm part of the solution." After condemning Harvey Weinstein's actions last month, Affleck was forced to defend his own conduct. He apologised for groping the actress Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 when she was a host on MTV's Total Request Live. Another video from 2004 showed Affleck pulling Montreal TV host Anne-Marie Losique onto his lap. Speaking yesterday, Affleck said two things need to happen, that "more women need to be pushed to power" and that sexual harassment has to also be "a men's issue" where guys call out inappropriate behaviour.

Weinstein sexual harassment case: Ben Affleck says he wants to be 'part of the solution'

<p>The New York City Police Department said on Friday that it had a credible narrative from an unidentified woman who has made a rape allegation against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and was gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant.</p>

<p>New York City Police Department Deputy Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told a news conference that the alleged victim &quot;put forth a credible and detailed narrative.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;We have an actual case here,&quot; Boyce said. He said the police department became aware of the accusation on October 25.</p>

<p>Boyce said it was a seven-year-old case and &quot;we have to move forward gathering evidence.&quot;</p>

<p>Boyce said that because Weinstein was out of state the police department would need a court-ordered warrant for an arrest.</p>

<p>More than 50 women have claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the allegations.</p>

<p>Boyce said police had spoken to the woman and &quot;we found corroboration along the way.&quot;</p>

<p>He said the NYPD was working on the case with the Manhattan district attorney&#39;s office.</p>

<p>&quot;Right now he (Weinstein) poses no threat to anybody in New York City. He&#39;s out of state. So it&#39;s a continuing investigation,&quot; Boyce told the news conference.</p>

<p>Earlier on Friday, in response to media reports, Joan Vollero, a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., told Reuters, &ldquo;A senior sex crimes prosecutor is assigned to this investigation, and the Office has been working with our partners in the NYPD since the new allegations came to light.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Police in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and London have also said they are investigating sexual assault allegations against Weinstein but no charges have been brought against him.</p>


The New York City Police Department said on Friday that it had a credible narrative from an unidentified woman who has made a rape allegation against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and was gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant

The New York City Police Department said on Friday that it had a credible narrative from an unidentified woman who has made a rape allegation against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and was gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant. New York City Police Department Deputy Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told a news conference that the alleged victim "put forth a credible and detailed narrative." "We have an actual case here," Boyce said. He said the police department became aware of the accusation on October 25. Boyce said it was a seven-year-old case and "we have to move forward gathering evidence." Boyce said that because Weinstein was out of state the police department would need a court-ordered warrant for an arrest. More than 50 women have claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the allegations. Boyce said police had spoken to the woman and "we found corroboration along the way." He said the NYPD was working on the case with the Manhattan district attorney's office. "Right now he (Weinstein) poses no threat to anybody in New York City. He's out of state. So it's a continuing investigation," Boyce told the news conference. Earlier on Friday, in response to media reports, Joan Vollero, a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., told Reuters, “A senior sex crimes prosecutor is assigned to this investigation, and the Office has been working with our partners in the NYPD since the new allegations came to light.” Police in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and London have also said they are investigating sexual assault allegations against Weinstein but no charges have been brought against him.

New York City police say gathering evidence for possible Weinstein arrest warrant

<p>The Delhi High Court said today every unwelcome physical contact cannot be categorised as sexual harassment, live law reported.</p>

<p>High court Justice Vibhu Bakhru while hearing an appeal challenging the clean chit given by the complaint committee and Disciplinary Authority to an employee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research accused of sexual harassment said: &quot;Undoubtedly, physical contact or advances would constitute sexual harassment provided such physical contact is a part of the sexually determined behavior. Such physical contact must be in the context of a behavior which is sexually oriented.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Plainly, a mere accidental physical contact, even though unwelcome, would not amount to sexual harassment,&quot; Justice Bakhru added.</p>

<p>&quot;Similarly, a physical contact which has no undertone of a sexual nature and is not occasioned by the gender of the complainant may not necessarily amount to sexual harassment,&rdquo; Live Law quoted Justice Bakhru as saying.</p>

<p>The woman had alleged that the man had &ldquo;held her hand and pushed her out of the laboratory&rdquo;, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research had exonerated the respondent, Live Law said.</p>

<p>The High Court dismissed the women&#39;s appeal, upholding the decision of the scientific council.</p>


The High Court dismissed the women's appeal, upholding the decision of the scientific council.

The Delhi High Court said today every unwelcome physical contact cannot be categorised as sexual harassment, live law reported. High court Justice Vibhu Bakhru while hearing an appeal challenging the clean chit given by the complaint committee and Disciplinary Authority to an employee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research accused of sexual harassment said: "Undoubtedly, physical contact or advances would constitute sexual harassment provided such physical contact is a part of the sexually determined behavior. Such physical contact must be in the context of a behavior which is sexually oriented." "Plainly, a mere accidental physical contact, even though unwelcome, would not amount to sexual harassment," Justice Bakhru added. "Similarly, a physical contact which has no undertone of a sexual nature and is not occasioned by the gender of the complainant may not necessarily amount to sexual harassment,” Live Law quoted Justice Bakhru as saying. The woman had alleged that the man had “held her hand and pushed her out of the laboratory”, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research had exonerated the respondent, Live Law said. The High Court dismissed the women's appeal, upholding the decision of the scientific council.

Every unwelcome physical contact cannot be categorised as sexual harassment: High Court

<p>The &ldquo;#metoo&rdquo; campaign is the voice of the people who are rightly exasperated by the culture of sexual aggression and the surrounding shame. Indeed, removing the culture of shame and its predecessor, silence, is the first step towards dismantling the arsenal of the aggressor, who goes by many names, &ldquo;rapist&rdquo; and &ldquo;sexual predator&rdquo; being two of them.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the &ldquo;metoo&rdquo; campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the ?metoo? campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>By facilitating a safe space to vent and express, the campaign has also assumed a therapeutic purpose. However, the listing of important names in academia as aggressors by a woman on Facebook, as part of the naming and shaming process of the &ldquo;metoo&rdquo; campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. While there are no easy answers to these questions, I also fear the impact of this debate on the credibility and overall efficacy of the victim&rsquo;s rights movement in India.</p>

<p>I proceed on the premise that sexual violence can be seen from three perspectives, one as an experience of the victim, two as a definition under the law and three as a convergence of one and two. Sexual violence is an experience, but the terms &ldquo;rape&rdquo;, &ldquo;stalking&rdquo;, &ldquo;voyeurism&rdquo; and &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo; are legal concepts. Sometimes the sense of victimisation is also perceived and defined by law, in which case sexual aggression qualifies as &ldquo;rape&rdquo;, &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo;, &ldquo;voyeurism&rdquo;, &ldquo;stalking&rdquo;, etc.</p>

<p>You see, if an experience qualifies as a legal definition of sexual aggression, the offender cannot get away with a simple apology, no matter how sincere or well-intentioned. Similarly, the complainant, where a legal offence of sexual aggression is alleged, is bound by rules of evidence. The law attempts to strike a balance when sexual aggression qualifies as a crime viz., the severity of consequences for the offender, but tempered by the burden of proof to establish accountability.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>In other words, guilt beyond reasonable doubt. An objective act of sexual aggression beyond excuse or reproach. In recent times, many big persons were named in social media posts as having indulged in sexual harassment. However, we did not see punishment for any of them with the exception of Harvey Weinstein who got fired from his own company. Mr Weinstein remains perhaps the sole exception to the &quot;no consequences for sexual predators through social media posts&quot; rule.</p>

<p>As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. This diversity stems from the inherently subjective nature of negotiating consent for a sexual relationship. To cite an example, western media content taught us that men go to bars to find single women. A man would then ask the woman out for a drink or a cup of coffee and if successful, commences on the process of dating. However, despite my best intentions, a similar attempt to &quot;ask out&quot; a woman in India may very well constitute sexual aggression, considering the diversity of cultural contexts in gender relations.</p>

<p>The defence of the man to such an accusation would be, &quot;I asked her out. She could have said no and I would have backed out&quot;. I have asked out women, I have been rejected and I have backed out. But does that then mean that asking out the woman itself is sexual aggression? I have avoided committing the criminal offence of &quot;sexual harassment&quot; because on being made aware of the woman&rsquo;s lack of interest and lack of consent to the continued conversation, I backed out.</p>

<p>But the fact remains that any girl who felt intimidated by the actions of a stranger wanting to have a conversation over a cup of coffee has still experienced sexual aggression even if in the eyes of society or law or the man- it is not such an act. This insensitivity to the experience of women lies at the heart of the &quot;metoo&quot; campaign. For too long, formal rules of procedure, inherent challenges of evidence and inexcusable conviction rates, have eroded the trust of women in the legal concepts around sexual aggression and the justice system&rsquo;s ability to help them address sexual aggression.</p>

<p>But my experience of assisting the prosecution of sexual assault cases or training internal complaints committees to adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment has also opened my eyes to the inherent limitations of the law when it comes to addressing very diverse experience around sexual victimisation.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>Sexual aggression as an experience suffers from the same difficulty that sexuality suffers from, it is subjective and ranges from person to person. But the law attempts to standardise a form of victimisation that is fundamentally unique to each individual. Therefore, legal definitions of sexual aggression as &ldquo;rape&rdquo; or &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo; will always stop short of addressing sexual aggression as an experience.</p>

<p>So, to all the women out there, let me say this, simply because what you experienced may not lead to a conviction or doesn&rsquo;t qualify as a crime, doesn&rsquo;t undermine your experience nor does it mean that the wrongdoer was not the wrongdoer. It simply means our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. But it does mean that when your victimisation doesn&rsquo;t fit into the several definitions of sexual aggression such as &ldquo;rape&rdquo; or &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo;, your remedy doesn&rsquo;t exist in the law.</p>

<p>The authors of the list containing the academics&rsquo; names could argue that because conventional legal systems are likely to fail them on account of inherent evidentiary challenges, late reporting, and the shallow attempts of law to define diverse forms of sexual aggression, this was their only means of venting. But is naming a perpetrator of something that may not be a crime, simply to vent, justified?</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>But where does a legitimate cry for justice, stop being that, and becomes instead a feminist version of the Spanish Inquisition? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. When does a social media post about sexual aggression stop being a complaint and becomes libel instead? And how can we balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity?</p>

<p>Social media trials operate on the premise that there is no need to balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity. It does away the need to determine not just the wrong, but the full extent of the wrong, so as to determine what is a proportional punishment. The prior discussion around the differences between the sociological/psychological understanding of sexual aggression and its legal understanding was to highlight the dangers of social media trials of sexual aggression cases.</p>

<p>How do we determine based on a single Facebook post the true extent of victimisation and sexual aggression? Because that determination is possible only through a nuanced inquiry which none of us can hope to initiate. That inquiry may either reveal a crime or sexual victimisation not constituting a crime. Based on that, we can judge.</p>

<p>However, without a complete and thorough understanding of the victimisation or sexual aggression involved, how do we determine, if the academics named on the list qualified for being defamed online? Social media trials often only satisfy voyeuristic curiosity, but seldom fail to bring about justice. We are all vulnerable to amnesia and even the most serious sexual predator out there knows that if he lies low long enough, we will convince ourselves that he doesn&rsquo;t exist.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob&rsquo;s cause may be.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob?s cause may be." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>So, how should the academics respond? Defamation suit could be tempting, but no woman deserves to be sued for making a complaint, no matter how unsustainable. Rather, the academics in the list, many of whom are feminists have a golden opportunity. Let them write to the jurisdictional Internal Complaints Committees asking for the complaints to be probed, impartially and dispassionately.</p>

<p>Such an initiative on their part would demonstrate that their claims of innocence are premised on confidence and not on our propensity for amnesia. It would also be a telling endorsement of the rule of law and provoke our legal system to action. And either way, there will be closure at the end of the inquiry. After all, justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob&rsquo;s cause may be.</p>


Me too campaign has raised voyeuristic curiosity on social media but the intervention of judiciary would help in bringing about justice

The “#metoo” campaign is the voice of the people who are rightly exasperated by the culture of sexual aggression and the surrounding shame. Indeed, removing the culture of shame and its predecessor, silence, is the first step towards dismantling the arsenal of the aggressor, who goes by many names, “rapist” and “sexual predator” being two of them. A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the “metoo” campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. × By facilitating a safe space to vent and express, the campaign has also assumed a therapeutic purpose. However, the listing of important names in academia as aggressors by a woman on Facebook, as part of the naming and shaming process of the “metoo” campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. While there are no easy answers to these questions, I also fear the impact of this debate on the credibility and overall efficacy of the victim’s rights movement in India. I proceed on the premise that sexual violence can be seen from three perspectives, one as an experience of the victim, two as a definition under the law and three as a convergence of one and two. Sexual violence is an experience, but the terms “rape”, “stalking”, “voyeurism” and “sexual harassment” are legal concepts. Sometimes the sense of victimisation is also perceived and defined by law, in which case sexual aggression qualifies as “rape”, “sexual harassment”, “voyeurism”, “stalking”, etc. You see, if an experience qualifies as a legal definition of sexual aggression, the offender cannot get away with a simple apology, no matter how sincere or well-intentioned. Similarly, the complainant, where a legal offence of sexual aggression is alleged, is bound by rules of evidence. The law attempts to strike a balance when sexual aggression qualifies as a crime viz., the severity of consequences for the offender, but tempered by the burden of proof to establish accountability. As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. × In other words, guilt beyond reasonable doubt. An objective act of sexual aggression beyond excuse or reproach. In recent times, many big persons were named in social media posts as having indulged in sexual harassment. However, we did not see punishment for any of them with the exception of Harvey Weinstein who got fired from his own company. Mr Weinstein remains perhaps the sole exception to the "no consequences for sexual predators through social media posts" rule. As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. This diversity stems from the inherently subjective nature of negotiating consent for a sexual relationship. To cite an example, western media content taught us that men go to bars to find single women. A man would then ask the woman out for a drink or a cup of coffee and if successful, commences on the process of dating. However, despite my best intentions, a similar attempt to "ask out" a woman in India may very well constitute sexual aggression, considering the diversity of cultural contexts in gender relations. The defence of the man to such an accusation would be, "I asked her out. She could have said no and I would have backed out". I have asked out women, I have been rejected and I have backed out. But does that then mean that asking out the woman itself is sexual aggression? I have avoided committing the criminal offence of "sexual harassment" because on being made aware of the woman’s lack of interest and lack of consent to the continued conversation, I backed out. But the fact remains that any girl who felt intimidated by the actions of a stranger wanting to have a conversation over a cup of coffee has still experienced sexual aggression even if in the eyes of society or law or the man- it is not such an act. This insensitivity to the experience of women lies at the heart of the "metoo" campaign. For too long, formal rules of procedure, inherent challenges of evidence and inexcusable conviction rates, have eroded the trust of women in the legal concepts around sexual aggression and the justice system’s ability to help them address sexual aggression. But my experience of assisting the prosecution of sexual assault cases or training internal complaints committees to adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment has also opened my eyes to the inherent limitations of the law when it comes to addressing very diverse experience around sexual victimisation. Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. × Sexual aggression as an experience suffers from the same difficulty that sexuality suffers from, it is subjective and ranges from person to person. But the law attempts to standardise a form of victimisation that is fundamentally unique to each individual. Therefore, legal definitions of sexual aggression as “rape” or “sexual harassment” will always stop short of addressing sexual aggression as an experience. So, to all the women out there, let me say this, simply because what you experienced may not lead to a conviction or doesn’t qualify as a crime, doesn’t undermine your experience nor does it mean that the wrongdoer was not the wrongdoer. It simply means our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. But it does mean that when your victimisation doesn’t fit into the several definitions of sexual aggression such as “rape” or “sexual harassment”, your remedy doesn’t exist in the law. The authors of the list containing the academics’ names could argue that because conventional legal systems are likely to fail them on account of inherent evidentiary challenges, late reporting, and the shallow attempts of law to define diverse forms of sexual aggression, this was their only means of venting. But is naming a perpetrator of something that may not be a crime, simply to vent, justified? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. × But where does a legitimate cry for justice, stop being that, and becomes instead a feminist version of the Spanish Inquisition? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. When does a social media post about sexual aggression stop being a complaint and becomes libel instead? And how can we balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity? Social media trials operate on the premise that there is no need to balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity. It does away the need to determine not just the wrong, but the full extent of the wrong, so as to determine what is a proportional punishment. The prior discussion around the differences between the sociological/psychological understanding of sexual aggression and its legal understanding was to highlight the dangers of social media trials of sexual aggression cases. How do we determine based on a single Facebook post the true extent of victimisation and sexual aggression? Because that determination is possible only through a nuanced inquiry which none of us can hope to initiate. That inquiry may either reveal a crime or sexual victimisation not constituting a crime. Based on that, we can judge. However, without a complete and thorough understanding of the victimisation or sexual aggression involved, how do we determine, if the academics named on the list qualified for being defamed online? Social media trials often only satisfy voyeuristic curiosity, but seldom fail to bring about justice. We are all vulnerable to amnesia and even the most serious sexual predator out there knows that if he lies low long enough, we will convince ourselves that he doesn’t exist. Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob’s cause may be. × So, how should the academics respond? Defamation suit could be tempting, but no woman deserves to be sued for making a complaint, no matter how unsustainable. Rather, the academics in the list, many of whom are feminists have a golden opportunity. Let them write to the jurisdictional Internal Complaints Committees asking for the complaints to be probed, impartially and dispassionately. Such an initiative on their part would demonstrate that their claims of innocence are premised on confidence and not on our propensity for amnesia. It would also be a telling endorsement of the rule of law and provoke our legal system to action. And either way, there will be closure at the end of the inquiry. After all, justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob’s cause may be.

#Metoo: Will cry for justice turn into mob lynching?

<p>Norwegian model and actress Natassia Malthe has accused studio mogul Harvey Weinstein of raping her in a London hotel room after BAFTA ceremony in 2008.</p>

<p>The actress, who has appeared in more than 50 films, said that she met Weinstein at the after party of the 2008 ceremony while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG, reports The Guardian.</p>

<p>Malthe is best known for starring in the &#39;BloodRayne&#39;&nbsp;horror-action franchise for filmmaker Uwe Boll, for whom she also starred in direct-to-video sequels &#39;Alone in the Dark II&#39;&nbsp;and &#39;In the Name of the King II&#39; and&nbsp;her biggest break was a villainous turn as the Marvel Comics character Typhoid opposite Jennifer Garner in 2005&rsquo;s superheroine bomb &#39;Elektra.&#39;</p>

<p>While speaking at a press conference, Malthe said that despite her repeatedly telling Weinstein she was not interested in&nbsp;a sexual relationship, he forced himself on her&nbsp;at the Sanderson hotel after they met at the BAFTA&nbsp;in February 2008.</p>

<p>The next day she received a script, she alleged, before returning to Los Angeles where she said she was given the impression she had landed a role in the movie &lsquo;Nine&rsquo;, a film produced by Weinstein that would star Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Although, she claims she was not&nbsp;comfortable because of&nbsp;what Harvey had done, she still went ahead with a dance audition</p>

<p>Malthe&rsquo;s lawyer Gloria Allred, who appeared alongside Malthe, described it as sexual assault was completely&nbsp;non-consensual.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I had experienced sexual harassment from other powerful men in Hollywood, but my experiences with Harvey were the worst,&rdquo; noted Malthe.</p>

<p>Malthe, who is from Norway, said she left the US&nbsp;after that incident and became depressed and anxious. &ldquo;I felt that my dreams had been shattered,&rdquo; Malthe said.</p>

<p>Many Hollywood actresses including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow have come out with the claims that the movie mogul tried to sexually harass them. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Weinstein Company, which sacked Weinstein, is also being sued for five million dollars by actress Dominique Huett, who claims the studio was negligent for having knowledge of his behaviour.</p>


While speaking at a press conference, Malthe said that despite her repeatedly telling Weinstein she was not interested in a sexual relationship, he forced himself on her in a room at the Sanderson hotel after they met at the Baftas in February 2008.

Norwegian model and actress Natassia Malthe has accused studio mogul Harvey Weinstein of raping her in a London hotel room after BAFTA ceremony in 2008. The actress, who has appeared in more than 50 films, said that she met Weinstein at the after party of the 2008 ceremony while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG, reports The Guardian. Malthe is best known for starring in the 'BloodRayne' horror-action franchise for filmmaker Uwe Boll, for whom she also starred in direct-to-video sequels 'Alone in the Dark II' and 'In the Name of the King II' and her biggest break was a villainous turn as the Marvel Comics character Typhoid opposite Jennifer Garner in 2005’s superheroine bomb 'Elektra.' While speaking at a press conference, Malthe said that despite her repeatedly telling Weinstein she was not interested in a sexual relationship, he forced himself on her at the Sanderson hotel after they met at the BAFTA in February 2008. The next day she received a script, she alleged, before returning to Los Angeles where she said she was given the impression she had landed a role in the movie ‘Nine’, a film produced by Weinstein that would star Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench. Although, she claims she was not comfortable because of what Harvey had done, she still went ahead with a dance audition Malthe’s lawyer Gloria Allred, who appeared alongside Malthe, described it as sexual assault was completely non-consensual. “I had experienced sexual harassment from other powerful men in Hollywood, but my experiences with Harvey were the worst,” noted Malthe. Malthe, who is from Norway, said she left the US after that incident and became depressed and anxious. “I felt that my dreams had been shattered,” Malthe said. Many Hollywood actresses including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow have come out with the claims that the movie mogul tried to sexually harass them. The Weinstein Company, which sacked Weinstein, is also being sued for five million dollars by actress Dominique Huett, who claims the studio was negligent for having knowledge of his behaviour.

Norwegian actress Natassia Malthe accuses producer Harvey Weinstein of rape

<p>Hollywood star Matt Damon has revealed that he knew that media mogul Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed Gwyneth Paltrow.</p>

<p>The 47-year-old star had initially dismissed reports that he knew about the disgraced producer&#39;s misconduct towards women when the scandal first broke out.</p>

<p>In an appearance on &quot;Good Morning America&quot;, Damon said that he learned Weinstein had abused Paltrow from his friend Ben Affleck, who was in a relationship with her.</p>

<p>&quot;I knew the story about Gwyneth from Ben, because he was with her after Brad, so I knew that story. But I was working with Gwyneth and Harvey on &#39;Ripley&#39;. I never talked to Gwyneth about it. Ben told me.</p>

<p>&quot;I knew that they had come to whatever agreement or understanding that they had come to. She had handled it and she was the first lady of Miramax. He treated her incredibly respectfully. Always,&quot; the actor said.</p>

<p>Damon, however, said that Weinstein&#39;s womanising nature was known to the industry.</p>

<p>&quot;When people say everybody knew, yeah, I knew he was an asshole. He was proud of that. That&#39;s how he carried himself. I knew he was a womaniser. I wouldn&#39;t want to be married to the guy, but that&#39;s not my business, really. But this level of criminal sexual predation is not something that I ever thought was going on. Absolutely not.&quot;</p>

<p>According to Damon, Weinstein was on his best behaviour around the actor. He, however, apologised for being unaware of the misconduct that women suffered at the producer&#39;s hands.</p>

<p>&quot;He didn&#39;t do it out in the open. If there was ever an event where there was something I was at with Harvey in public and he was doing this thing and I missed it, and there&#39;s some woman who was somehow assaulted and was at the Golden Globes or something and I somehow missed it, then I&#39;m sorry.&quot;</p>

<p>The actor, along with actor Russell Crowe, was under fire for killing 2004 expose by The New York Times on Weinstein&#39;s alleged history of sexual abuse, an allegation he denied.</p>

<p>Weinstein&#39;s previous company Miramax had produced Damon and Affleck&#39;s breakout film, &quot;Good Will Hunting&quot;.&nbsp;</p>


The 47-year-old star had initially dismissed reports that he knew about the disgraced producer's misconduct towards women

Hollywood star Matt Damon has revealed that he knew that media mogul Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed Gwyneth Paltrow. The 47-year-old star had initially dismissed reports that he knew about the disgraced producer's misconduct towards women when the scandal first broke out. In an appearance on "Good Morning America", Damon said that he learned Weinstein had abused Paltrow from his friend Ben Affleck, who was in a relationship with her. "I knew the story about Gwyneth from Ben, because he was with her after Brad, so I knew that story. But I was working with Gwyneth and Harvey on 'Ripley'. I never talked to Gwyneth about it. Ben told me. "I knew that they had come to whatever agreement or understanding that they had come to. She had handled it and she was the first lady of Miramax. He treated her incredibly respectfully. Always," the actor said. Damon, however, said that Weinstein's womanising nature was known to the industry. "When people say everybody knew, yeah, I knew he was an asshole. He was proud of that. That's how he carried himself. I knew he was a womaniser. I wouldn't want to be married to the guy, but that's not my business, really. But this level of criminal sexual predation is not something that I ever thought was going on. Absolutely not." According to Damon, Weinstein was on his best behaviour around the actor. He, however, apologised for being unaware of the misconduct that women suffered at the producer's hands. "He didn't do it out in the open. If there was ever an event where there was something I was at with Harvey in public and he was doing this thing and I missed it, and there's some woman who was somehow assaulted and was at the Golden Globes or something and I somehow missed it, then I'm sorry." The actor, along with actor Russell Crowe, was under fire for killing 2004 expose by The New York Times on Weinstein's alleged history of sexual abuse, an allegation he denied. Weinstein's previous company Miramax had produced Damon and Affleck's breakout film, "Good Will Hunting".

Matt Damon says he knew Weinstein harassed Gwyneth Paltrow

<p>Hindi film actors are usually not known <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/harvey-weinstein-resigns-from-weinstein-company-board-22580">to be very aware of gender politics, with a number of them,</a> especially top women actors, scurrying for cover at the mention of the word feminism.</p>

<p>Actor Priyanka Chopra is <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-women-across-the-world-resonate-weinsteins-accusers-22516">one of those who </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-women-across-the-world-resonate-weinsteins-accusers-22516">have</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-women-across-the-world-resonate-weinsteins-accusers-22516"> tried to shrug off any association </a>with the dreaded &#39;F&#39; word. Her stint in Hollywood, however, seems to be doing her sense of gender dynamics some good.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a conversation with Anne Fulenwider at the 2017 Marie Claire Power Trip, Chopra said that women were sexually harassed at the hands of powerful men everywhere.</p>

<p>Thirty-five-year-old Chopra&#39;s comments come in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment levelled by several well-known actresses against film mogul &nbsp;Harvey Weinstein. Chopra said she felt that people like Harvey Weinstein were not an anomaly in Hollywood.</p>

<p>Chopra, who has made a name for herself in the West with parts in series like Quantico and Baywatch, had on an earlier occasion made a faux pas while describing her show Quantico.</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t think it (Quantico) is feminist but it&#39;s empowering. It&#39;s got very strong female characters, and I don&#39;t think it&#39;s a bra-burning feminist show where you are like, we hate men.&quot;</p>

<p>The actor said that the behaviour was about having control over people and not about sex, reported Marie Claire.</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t think there&#39;s &#39;a&#39; Weinstein. I don&#39;t even think there&#39;s one Weinstein in Hollywood. There are a lot more men, and not just in India, but everywhere else. Just men trying to take away power (from women).</p>

<p>&quot;It is not about sex, it is about power. About putting a woman in &#39;her lane.&#39; For the longest time women have been told only one of us will survive. Only the best girl will get the job. But that just can&#39;t be tolerated anymore.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &#39;Quantico&#39; star compared the film industry to a &quot;big boys&#39; club&quot;, where women always live with the fear that one wrong move can cost them their career.</p>

<p>&quot;In our business, if you don&#39;t stroke someone&#39;s ego or network, you&#39;re threatened that you&#39;ll not get that movie. Or this &#39;big boys club&#39; will get together and boycott you.</p>

<p>&quot;So, as a woman, you feel alone, that my work might get shattered because this club can just take that away. It&#39;s an isolating feeling. The easiest thing to take away from a woman is her work,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Priyanka added women have been told that femininity is a weakness since time immemorial and there cannot be a bigger myth.</p>

<p>&quot;So what if I&#39;m in heels? So what if I wear a dress? We&#39;ve been told our femininity is our weakness, but it is not. We can be compassionate. We can be tough. When you open your mouth, you deliver,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Recently, many Hollywood stars such as Lupita Nyong&#39;o, Lena Headey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Cara Delevingne among others have accused Weinstein of sexually harassing them, with Rose McGowan claiming he raped her.</p>


The 35-year-old actor said women are harassed at the hands of powerful men everywhere

Hindi film actors are usually not known to be very aware of gender politics, with a number of them, especially top women actors, scurrying for cover at the mention of the word feminism. Actor Priyanka Chopra is one of those who have tried to shrug off any association with the dreaded 'F' word. Her stint in Hollywood, however, seems to be doing her sense of gender dynamics some good. In a conversation with Anne Fulenwider at the 2017 Marie Claire Power Trip, Chopra said that women were sexually harassed at the hands of powerful men everywhere. Thirty-five-year-old Chopra's comments come in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment levelled by several well-known actresses against film mogul Harvey Weinstein. Chopra said she felt that people like Harvey Weinstein were not an anomaly in Hollywood. Chopra, who has made a name for herself in the West with parts in series like Quantico and Baywatch, had on an earlier occasion made a faux pas while describing her show Quantico. "I don't think it (Quantico) is feminist but it's empowering. It's got very strong female characters, and I don't think it's a bra-burning feminist show where you are like, we hate men." The actor said that the behaviour was about having control over people and not about sex, reported Marie Claire. "I don't think there's 'a' Weinstein. I don't even think there's one Weinstein in Hollywood. There are a lot more men, and not just in India, but everywhere else. Just men trying to take away power (from women). "It is not about sex, it is about power. About putting a woman in 'her lane.' For the longest time women have been told only one of us will survive. Only the best girl will get the job. But that just can't be tolerated anymore." The 'Quantico' star compared the film industry to a "big boys' club", where women always live with the fear that one wrong move can cost them their career. "In our business, if you don't stroke someone's ego or network, you're threatened that you'll not get that movie. Or this 'big boys club' will get together and boycott you. "So, as a woman, you feel alone, that my work might get shattered because this club can just take that away. It's an isolating feeling. The easiest thing to take away from a woman is her work," she said. Priyanka added women have been told that femininity is a weakness since time immemorial and there cannot be a bigger myth. "So what if I'm in heels? So what if I wear a dress? We've been told our femininity is our weakness, but it is not. We can be compassionate. We can be tough. When you open your mouth, you deliver," she said. Recently, many Hollywood stars such as Lupita Nyong'o, Lena Headey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Cara Delevingne among others have accused Weinstein of sexually harassing them, with Rose McGowan claiming he raped her.

There are many Harvey Weinsteins in Hollywood: Priyanka Chopra

<p>Ogilvy &amp; Mather India managing partner Chandana Agarwal comments belittling the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/harvey-weinstein-resigns-from-weinstein-company-board-22580">&ldquo;Me Too&rdquo; social media campaign by claiming that certain types of sexual harassment </a>as &ldquo;part of growing up&rdquo; has drawn flak&nbsp;from Twitterati.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Vagabomb reported that when the Ogilvy employee shared the status, she <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-women-across-the-world-resonate-weinsteins-accusers-22516">&ldquo;requested anonymity and feared for her safety.&rdquo;</a></p>

<p>In the post, Agarwal expressed &ldquo;many issues&rdquo; with the &ldquo;Me Too&rdquo; campaign &ldquo;at many levels.&rdquo;</p>

<p>She went on to claim the issue should not be about things &ldquo;like someone grabbing at you or pinching you&quot;&nbsp;and that &ldquo;there are some experiences that are just part of growing up especially in India.&rdquo;</p>

<p>She added that &ldquo;there are some experiences that are part of growing up anywhere in the world&rdquo; and suggests that these include &ldquo;a boss/ a colleague/ a teacher trying to act fresh&rdquo; and that &ldquo;this is not about that.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Agarwal concludes by saying the conversation should be about more &quot;traumatic experiences of abuse&quot;&nbsp;than the ones being currently suggested and that,&ldquo;by making it so general we are being unfair&nbsp;to those who have been scarred&nbsp;with such experiences&quot;,&nbsp;ending with the hashtag, &ldquo;#notme.&rdquo;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ogilvy, you have a problem. &amp; her name is Chandana Agarwal. To think that somebody, &amp; a women, can get abuse &amp; harassment so wrong <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeToo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeToo</a> <a href="https://t.co/T4X0zmBQWL">pic.twitter.com/T4X0zmBQWL</a></p>
&mdash; the zibi (@zibijamal) <a href="https://twitter.com/zibijamal/status/920703537847328769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Harnidh Kaur shared the screenshot on Facebook and explained: &ldquo;This screenshot was sent to me by a current employee who chose to stay anonymous (for obvious reasons), who very rightly pointed out that this made her feel actively unsafe at work. Calling out women who propagate a toxic ability when they have the power to change things for the better is as important as calling men out.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In the post, Agarwal claimed the issue should not be about things ?like someone grabbing at you or pinching you and that ?there are some experiences that are just part of growing up especially in India.?

Ogilvy & Mather India managing partner Chandana Agarwal comments belittling the “Me Too” social media campaign by claiming that certain types of sexual harassment as “part of growing up” has drawn flak from Twitterati. The Vagabomb reported that when the Ogilvy employee shared the status, she “requested anonymity and feared for her safety.” In the post, Agarwal expressed “many issues” with the “Me Too” campaign “at many levels.” She went on to claim the issue should not be about things “like someone grabbing at you or pinching you" and that “there are some experiences that are just part of growing up especially in India.” She added that “there are some experiences that are part of growing up anywhere in the world” and suggests that these include “a boss/ a colleague/ a teacher trying to act fresh” and that “this is not about that.” Agarwal concludes by saying the conversation should be about more "traumatic experiences of abuse" than the ones being currently suggested and that,“by making it so general we are being unfair to those who have been scarred with such experiences", ending with the hashtag, “#notme.” Ogilvy, you have a problem. & her name is Chandana Agarwal. To think that somebody, & a women, can get abuse & harassment so wrong #MeToo pic.twitter.com/T4X0zmBQWL — the zibi (@zibijamal) October 18, 2017 × Harnidh Kaur shared the screenshot on Facebook and explained: “This screenshot was sent to me by a current employee who chose to stay anonymous (for obvious reasons), who very rightly pointed out that this made her feel actively unsafe at work. Calling out women who propagate a toxic ability when they have the power to change things for the better is as important as calling men out.”

Sexual harassment at workplace part of 'growing up', says O&M India managing partner Chandana Agarwal

<p>Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has resigned from the Weinstein Company board of directors, as his company tries to distance itself from the disgraced mogul.</p>

<p>Weinstein was fired as co-chairman on October 8, but he continues to own 22 per cent of the company&#39;s stock, and until today continued to hold a seat on the board, reported Variety.</p>

<p>The remnants of the Weinstein Company board, including the other co-founder, Bob Weinstein, convened on Tuesday at the Manhattan offices of Debevoise and Plimpton, a law firm hired by the studio to investigate allegations made against Weinstein.</p>

<p>In a statement, the three-member board confirmed that Weinstein had stepped down and said it had &quot;... Ratified its decision to terminate&quot; his employment.</p>

<p>The company now risks falling into a protracted legal battle with Weinstein, who alleges his firing was illegal.</p>

<p>Since the allegations against Weinstein first became public, most Weinstein Company board members have resigned, leaving only Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Bob Weinstein.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-london-police-investigating-weinstein-amid-fourth-rape-allegation-22370" target="_blank">New York, London police investigating Weinstein amid fourth rape allegation</a></p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/weinstein-scandal-signals-end-for-dinosaur-men-zeta-jones-22560" target="_blank">Weinstein scandal signals end for dinosaur men: Zeta-Jones </a></p>


Weinstein was fired as co-chairman on October 8, but he continues to own 22 per cent of the company's stock, and until today continued to hold a seat on the board, reported Variety

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has resigned from the Weinstein Company board of directors, as his company tries to distance itself from the disgraced mogul. Weinstein was fired as co-chairman on October 8, but he continues to own 22 per cent of the company's stock, and until today continued to hold a seat on the board, reported Variety. The remnants of the Weinstein Company board, including the other co-founder, Bob Weinstein, convened on Tuesday at the Manhattan offices of Debevoise and Plimpton, a law firm hired by the studio to investigate allegations made against Weinstein. In a statement, the three-member board confirmed that Weinstein had stepped down and said it had "... Ratified its decision to terminate" his employment. The company now risks falling into a protracted legal battle with Weinstein, who alleges his firing was illegal. Since the allegations against Weinstein first became public, most Weinstein Company board members have resigned, leaving only Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Bob Weinstein. Also read: New York, London police investigating Weinstein amid fourth rape allegation Also read: Weinstein scandal signals end for dinosaur men: Zeta-Jones

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein resigns from company board

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/everyone-knew-about-weinstein-actress-21317" target="_blank">Harvey Weinstein&#39;s fall should be the end of &quot;dinosaur&quot; men preying on women</a>, Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones said Tuesday as she premiered a film about a woman who had a brutally efficient way of dealing with chauvinism.</p>

<p>The Oscar-winning actress said she hoped <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-police-probing-2004-weinstein-assault-case-22367" target="_blank">Weinstein&#39;s disgrace would be the &quot;tipping point or at last a turning point&quot;</a> in the treatment of women not just in Hollywood but in &quot;any industry, corporation, school or college.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Let&#39;s hope that big old dinosaur of men thinking they can get away with that sort of behavior is extinct as of now,&quot; she told reporters.</p>

<p>The British-born star, who plays the notorious Colombian drug baron Griselda Blanco in a new TV film, &quot;Cocaine Godmother&quot;, joked that her character had a rather direct way of dealing with male sexism: &quot;Shoot them in the head.&quot;</p>

<p>Zeta-Jones said that while that would not be her approach, as a woman &quot;you have to give her that, as we still fight for equality in the workplace.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Griselda had no redeeming traits but the one thing she did have was the ability to stand up against men in a male world,&quot; she said as the film screened at MIPCOM, the top TV industry gathering, in Cannes on the French Riviera.</p>

<p>Sexism is not &quot;just a problem in the film, theatrical or TV industry,&quot; Zeta-Jones added. &quot;It is rife everywhere. As women, we get knocked down as being ambitious. Men don&#39;t get that. We should be proud of being ambitious, we shouldn&#39;t hide it.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said she hoped lessons were being learned from the Weinstein affair, &quot;otherwise we truly are stuck in a world that&#39;s very sad and very destructive.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the dangers from predators, she advised young actors &quot;not to lose your vulnerability -- it is essential to your craft. Vulnerability is a beautiful character trait and we should have it and be allowed to have it. But it&#39;s important that we know it&#39;s protected.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ben-affleck-apologises-for-groping-tv-host-21326" target="_blank">Also Read:&nbsp;Ben Affleck </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ben-affleck-apologises-for-groping-tv-host-21326" target="_blank">apologises</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ben-affleck-apologises-for-groping-tv-host-21326" target="_blank"> for groping TV host</a></p>

<p><strong>- Typecast for her beauty -</strong></p>

<p>Zeta-Jones, now 48, who left Britain for Hollywood because she felt she was being typecast for her beauty, said she glories in taking on difficult, ambiguous women like Blanco who was &quot;the most feared, dreaded woman in the drugs business&quot; in the 1970s and 1980s before the rise of Pablo Escobar.</p>

<p>&quot;It is very flattering to have your characters always as the &#39;beautiful sexy woman who walks into the room...&#39; But when I hear that I always go, &#39;Ah shoot! That&#39;s way too much time in hair and make-up.&#39; If I could just let all that go and find who this woman was...&quot;</p>

<p>Zeta-Jones said she gained weight for the role and put her back out from the weeks spent mimicking the way Blanco walked.</p>

<p>The actress, who played the wife of a drug lord in the critically-acclaimed film &quot;Traffic&quot; while she was pregnant with her now 17-year-old son, said playing this &quot;dreadful yet fascinating&quot; woman had unleashed &quot;a very sick dark sense of humor I have been hiding for years.&quot;</p>

<p>Even though Blanco was a shopaholic who filled her vast homes with designer clothes and accessories, her life was &quot;not at all glamorous&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;She never left the house other than to kill someone,&quot; said Zeta-Jones.</p>

<p>Playing the so-called Black Widow as she aged meant she didn&#39;t have to worry about having &quot;baggy eyes&quot; if she didn&#39;t sleep well during filming.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Normally I sleep propped up on pillows&quot; during shoots so that doesn&#39;t happen, she said.</p>


Zeta-Jones said she hoped lessons were being learned from the Weinstein affair, 'otherwise, we truly are stuck in a world that's very sad and very destructive'

Harvey Weinstein's fall should be the end of "dinosaur" men preying on women, Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones said Tuesday as she premiered a film about a woman who had a brutally efficient way of dealing with chauvinism. The Oscar-winning actress said she hoped Weinstein's disgrace would be the "tipping point or at last a turning point" in the treatment of women not just in Hollywood but in "any industry, corporation, school or college." "Let's hope that big old dinosaur of men thinking they can get away with that sort of behavior is extinct as of now," she told reporters. The British-born star, who plays the notorious Colombian drug baron Griselda Blanco in a new TV film, "Cocaine Godmother", joked that her character had a rather direct way of dealing with male sexism: "Shoot them in the head." Zeta-Jones said that while that would not be her approach, as a woman "you have to give her that, as we still fight for equality in the workplace." "Griselda had no redeeming traits but the one thing she did have was the ability to stand up against men in a male world," she said as the film screened at MIPCOM, the top TV industry gathering, in Cannes on the French Riviera. Sexism is not "just a problem in the film, theatrical or TV industry," Zeta-Jones added. "It is rife everywhere. As women, we get knocked down as being ambitious. Men don't get that. We should be proud of being ambitious, we shouldn't hide it." She said she hoped lessons were being learned from the Weinstein affair, "otherwise we truly are stuck in a world that's very sad and very destructive." Despite the dangers from predators, she advised young actors "not to lose your vulnerability -- it is essential to your craft. Vulnerability is a beautiful character trait and we should have it and be allowed to have it. But it's important that we know it's protected." Also Read: Ben Affleck apologises for groping TV host - Typecast for her beauty - Zeta-Jones, now 48, who left Britain for Hollywood because she felt she was being typecast for her beauty, said she glories in taking on difficult, ambiguous women like Blanco who was "the most feared, dreaded woman in the drugs business" in the 1970s and 1980s before the rise of Pablo Escobar. "It is very flattering to have your characters always as the 'beautiful sexy woman who walks into the room...' But when I hear that I always go, 'Ah shoot! That's way too much time in hair and make-up.' If I could just let all that go and find who this woman was..." Zeta-Jones said she gained weight for the role and put her back out from the weeks spent mimicking the way Blanco walked. The actress, who played the wife of a drug lord in the critically-acclaimed film "Traffic" while she was pregnant with her now 17-year-old son, said playing this "dreadful yet fascinating" woman had unleashed "a very sick dark sense of humor I have been hiding for years." Even though Blanco was a shopaholic who filled her vast homes with designer clothes and accessories, her life was "not at all glamorous". "She never left the house other than to kill someone," said Zeta-Jones. Playing the so-called Black Widow as she aged meant she didn't have to worry about having "baggy eyes" if she didn't sleep well during filming. "Normally I sleep propped up on pillows" during shoots so that doesn't happen, she said.

Weinstein scandal signals end for dinosaur men: Zeta-Jones

<p>An Australian model said she was &quot;played&quot; by Harvey Weinstein and his colleagues who engineered a hotel room meeting where he stripped naked and demanded a massage, in the latest accusation against the Hollywood mogul.</p>

<p>Zoe Brock said she met Weinstein at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival when she was 23 and was seated next to him at a dinner, not realising who he was.</p>

<p>Brock told Australia&#39;s Channel Nine she went back to his hotel room with a group of his colleagues and they were eventually left alone.</p>

<p>&quot;He left the room and came back naked,&quot; she alleged late Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck&#39;</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck'" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>&quot;He wanted a massage, and I didn&rsquo;t want to give him one. I remember being quite frozen. He touched my back and shoulders, and I quickly knew that I couldn&rsquo;t ... and I got up and I ran.&quot;</p>

<p>On reflection, she believes she was manipulated and targeted, not only by Weinstein but his accomplices who set up the situation.</p>

<p>&quot;I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Brock is the latest in a long line of women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault and rape over the past week.</p>

<p>He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex, but has been denounced by many in Hollywood with &quot;Thor&quot; stars Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth the latest to condemn his behaviour.</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s absolutely intolerable and people should be filing criminal complaints against him. It was a crime what he was doing,&quot; Ruffalo told the Sydney Morning Herald at the Sydney premiere of &quot;Thor: Ragnarok&quot; on Sunday evening.</p>

<p>Hemsworth said he believed the scandal would change Tinseltown for the better.</p>

<p>&quot;Hopefully it will put a spotlight on the issue and people will change their thinking to what is acceptable and that it doesn&#39;t occur (again) would be the best scenario,&quot; he said.</p>


Zoe Brock said she went back to Weinstein's hotel room with him and his colleagues. They were eventually left alone which, she says on reflection, was done deliberately

An Australian model said she was "played" by Harvey Weinstein and his colleagues who engineered a hotel room meeting where he stripped naked and demanded a massage, in the latest accusation against the Hollywood mogul. Zoe Brock said she met Weinstein at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival when she was 23 and was seated next to him at a dinner, not realising who he was. Brock told Australia's Channel Nine she went back to his hotel room with a group of his colleagues and they were eventually left alone. "He left the room and came back naked," she alleged late Sunday. I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck' × "He wanted a massage, and I didn’t want to give him one. I remember being quite frozen. He touched my back and shoulders, and I quickly knew that I couldn’t ... and I got up and I ran." On reflection, she believes she was manipulated and targeted, not only by Weinstein but his accomplices who set up the situation. "I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck," she said. Brock is the latest in a long line of women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault and rape over the past week. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex, but has been denounced by many in Hollywood with "Thor" stars Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth the latest to condemn his behaviour. "It's absolutely intolerable and people should be filing criminal complaints against him. It was a crime what he was doing," Ruffalo told the Sydney Morning Herald at the Sydney premiere of "Thor: Ragnarok" on Sunday evening. Hemsworth said he believed the scandal would change Tinseltown for the better. "Hopefully it will put a spotlight on the issue and people will change their thinking to what is acceptable and that it doesn't occur (again) would be the best scenario," he said.

WATCH: Australian model latest to accuse Weinstein, says his colleagues helped

<p>France has started the process of stripping<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hollywood-mogul-weinstein-accused-of-rape-21257"> Harvey Weinstein</a> of his Legion of Honour, France`s highest civilian distinction, after allegations of sexual harassment against the film producer, President Emmanuel Macron`s office confirmed on Sunday (October 15) while interviewed at the Elysee Palace.</p>

<p>The move follows detailed claims by numerous women that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades.</p>

<p>Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.</p>

<p>The producer of Oscar-winning films including &quot;The Artist&quot; had received the Legion of Honour, &quot;Chevalier&quot; grade, from President Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2012.</p>

<p>The Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d`honneur is the body in charge of the decoration, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.</p>

<p>Macron condemned the silence that reigns around sexual harassment and invited women to break it.</p>

<p>Policies for daily security will be implemented with the priority to fight against sexual harassment in the streets and provide a mechanism to speak about it, he added.</p>


France has started the process of stripping Harvey Weinstein of his Legion of Honour, France`s highest civilian distinction, after allegations of sexual harassment against the film producer, President Emmanuel Macron confirms

France has started the process of stripping Harvey Weinstein of his Legion of Honour, France`s highest civilian distinction, after allegations of sexual harassment against the film producer, President Emmanuel Macron`s office confirmed on Sunday (October 15) while interviewed at the Elysee Palace. The move follows detailed claims by numerous women that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. The producer of Oscar-winning films including "The Artist" had received the Legion of Honour, "Chevalier" grade, from President Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2012. The Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d`honneur is the body in charge of the decoration, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Macron condemned the silence that reigns around sexual harassment and invited women to break it. Policies for daily security will be implemented with the priority to fight against sexual harassment in the streets and provide a mechanism to speak about it, he added.

France considering revoking Weinstein's Legion of Honour: Macron

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-police-probing-2004-weinstein-assault-case-22367" target="_blank">The case against disgraced Harvey Weinstein</a> took on an international dimension Thursday, with police in New York and Britain launching investigations -- while <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hollywood-mogul-weinstein-accused-of-rape-21257" target="_blank">the movie mogul was accused of rape</a> by a fourth person.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hollywood-mogul-harvey-weinstein-fired-after-sexual-harassment-claims-21149" target="_blank">An avalanche of claims of sexual harassment</a>, assault and rape by the hugely influential Hollywood producer have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behaviour dating back decades.</p>

<p>On Thursday, American actress Rose McGowan became the fourth woman to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/everyone-knew-about-weinstein-actress-21317" target="_blank">accuse Weinstein of raping her.</a></p>

<p>A spokesman for the New York Police Department meanwhile confirmed to AFP it was investigating a 2004 case, but provided no details.</p>

<p>The New York Daily News reported that the case involved aspiring actress Lucia Evans, who earlier told the New Yorker magazine that Weinstein had forced her to perform oral sex on him.</p>

<p>Meantime, a statement from Scotland Yard said the Metropolitan Police were investigating &quot;an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police.&quot; It did not elaborate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Daily Telegraph said the case involved an actress now understood to be living in the Liverpool area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday, Weinstein was seen in public for the first time in days when paparazzi descended upon him as he left his daughter`s home in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>&quot;Guys, I`m not doing OK but I`m trying,&quot; he said in a video obtained by ABC. &quot;I got to get help. You know what, we all make mistakes.&quot;</p>

<p>As he climbed into an oversized sports utility vehicle, he said he hoped people would give him &quot;a second chance.&quot;</p>

<p>The TMZ website reported that Weinstein later flew to Arizona to enter a rehabilitation center, possibly The Meadows, a facility northwest of Phoenix where golfer Tiger Woods and supermodel Kate</p>

<p>Moss have been treated.The allegations against a man who is a prominent supporter of liberal causes and a major Democratic Party fundraiser sent tremors through the party, with conservatives accusing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of waiting too long to disavow Weinstein.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Obama eventually said he was &quot;disgusted&quot; and Clinton that she was &quot;appalled&quot; by the alleged acts.</p>

<p>The allegations against one of the cinema`s titans -- a man whose studio has garnered more than 300 Oscar nominations -- have shaken Hollywood, which has long battled a reputation for exploiting female actors, bypassing female directors and overlooking female-centred scripts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Weinstein&#39;s accusers include such bold-named actresses as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Kate Beckinsale and actor/singer Ashley Judd.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, the two-time Academy Award-winning actress, Thursday told the BBC`s &quot;Hardtalk&quot; program she heard of the accusations against Weinstein a year ago -- admitting she &quot;should&#39;ve been braver&quot; in voicing the claims.</p>

<p>She added she did not publicly speak out to protect his accusers` privacy.</p>

<p>The catalogue of allegations ranges from verbal harassment and physical intimidation to forced sexual contact. Some of the lesser complaints can no longer be prosecuted owing to statutes of limitation.</p>

<p>Along with McGowan and Evans, two other women have accused Weinstein of rape: Italian star Asia Argento and another woman who has remained anonymous.</p>

<p>In New York, there is no statute of limitations in rape cases.</p>

<p>Authorities there have not yet filed charges in the 2004 case, but are encouraging anyone with information to come forward, said J&nbsp;Peter Donald, a New York Police Department spokesman.</p>

<p>California -- responding to the slew of sexual assault allegations against comedian Bill Cosby -- last year ended its statute of limitations for rape cases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the change was not retroactive, so most cases 10 years old or older could not be prosecuted. The parallels between Weinstein`s situation and that of Cosby are striking: several presumed victims have come forth in both cases, their complaints reach back decades and both powerful men reached secret settlements with some of their accusers to keep them quiet.</p>

<p>The Weinstein allegations are expected to play out both in criminal and civil courts, drawing in some of his close friends and collaborators.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The producer has been lining up a top-flight defense team. He recently retained the services of a star of the Los Angeles bar, Blair Berk, according to the Hollywood Reporter.</p>

<p>Weinstein, like Cosby before him, has insisted that all the sexual contacts that have emerged were consensual. Through a spokeswoman, he has apologized for his behaviour but denied specific charges and threatened to sue the Times.</p>

<p>But with the allegations pouring in, he was fired by the eponymous company he co-founded, and his wife, actress Georgina Chapman, said she plans to divorce him.</p>

<p>Weinstein and his brother Bob, co-founders of Miramax Films, burst onto the indie scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s with films like &quot;Sex, Lies and Videotape,&quot; &quot;Shakespeare in Love&quot; and &quot;Pulp Fiction.&quot;</p>


American actress Rose McGowan became the fourth woman to accuse Weinstein of raping her

The case against disgraced Harvey Weinstein took on an international dimension Thursday, with police in New York and Britain launching investigations -- while the movie mogul was accused of rape by a fourth person. An avalanche of claims of sexual harassment, assault and rape by the hugely influential Hollywood producer have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behaviour dating back decades. On Thursday, American actress Rose McGowan became the fourth woman to accuse Weinstein of raping her. A spokesman for the New York Police Department meanwhile confirmed to AFP it was investigating a 2004 case, but provided no details. The New York Daily News reported that the case involved aspiring actress Lucia Evans, who earlier told the New Yorker magazine that Weinstein had forced her to perform oral sex on him. Meantime, a statement from Scotland Yard said the Metropolitan Police were investigating "an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police." It did not elaborate. The Daily Telegraph said the case involved an actress now understood to be living in the Liverpool area. On Wednesday, Weinstein was seen in public for the first time in days when paparazzi descended upon him as he left his daughter`s home in Los Angeles. "Guys, I`m not doing OK but I`m trying," he said in a video obtained by ABC. "I got to get help. You know what, we all make mistakes." As he climbed into an oversized sports utility vehicle, he said he hoped people would give him "a second chance." The TMZ website reported that Weinstein later flew to Arizona to enter a rehabilitation center, possibly The Meadows, a facility northwest of Phoenix where golfer Tiger Woods and supermodel Kate Moss have been treated.The allegations against a man who is a prominent supporter of liberal causes and a major Democratic Party fundraiser sent tremors through the party, with conservatives accusing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of waiting too long to disavow Weinstein. Obama eventually said he was "disgusted" and Clinton that she was "appalled" by the alleged acts. The allegations against one of the cinema`s titans -- a man whose studio has garnered more than 300 Oscar nominations -- have shaken Hollywood, which has long battled a reputation for exploiting female actors, bypassing female directors and overlooking female-centred scripts. Weinstein's accusers include such bold-named actresses as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Kate Beckinsale and actor/singer Ashley Judd. Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, the two-time Academy Award-winning actress, Thursday told the BBC`s "Hardtalk" program she heard of the accusations against Weinstein a year ago -- admitting she "should've been braver" in voicing the claims. She added she did not publicly speak out to protect his accusers` privacy. The catalogue of allegations ranges from verbal harassment and physical intimidation to forced sexual contact. Some of the lesser complaints can no longer be prosecuted owing to statutes of limitation. Along with McGowan and Evans, two other women have accused Weinstein of rape: Italian star Asia Argento and another woman who has remained anonymous. In New York, there is no statute of limitations in rape cases. Authorities there have not yet filed charges in the 2004 case, but are encouraging anyone with information to come forward, said J Peter Donald, a New York Police Department spokesman. California -- responding to the slew of sexual assault allegations against comedian Bill Cosby -- last year ended its statute of limitations for rape cases. But the change was not retroactive, so most cases 10 years old or older could not be prosecuted. The parallels between Weinstein`s situation and that of Cosby are striking: several presumed victims have come forth in both cases, their complaints reach back decades and both powerful men reached secret settlements with some of their accusers to keep them quiet. The Weinstein allegations are expected to play out both in criminal and civil courts, drawing in some of his close friends and collaborators. The producer has been lining up a top-flight defense team. He recently retained the services of a star of the Los Angeles bar, Blair Berk, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Weinstein, like Cosby before him, has insisted that all the sexual contacts that have emerged were consensual. Through a spokeswoman, he has apologized for his behaviour but denied specific charges and threatened to sue the Times. But with the allegations pouring in, he was fired by the eponymous company he co-founded, and his wife, actress Georgina Chapman, said she plans to divorce him. Weinstein and his brother Bob, co-founders of Miramax Films, burst onto the indie scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s with films like "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction."

New York, London police investigating Weinstein amid fourth rape allegation

<p>The actor Ben Affleck has apologised for groping a TV presenter.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize</p>
&mdash; Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenAffleck/status/918166049501208576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The apology came after Affleck posted condemnation of the producer Harvey Weinstein on Twitter, and a user reminded him of how he had also &quot;grabbed Hilarie Burton&#39;s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Burton replied to her saying: &quot;I didn&#39;t forget.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He also grabbed Hilarie Burton&#39;s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though.</p>
&mdash; Shanice Brim (@ShaniceBrim) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaniceBrim/status/917858247847104517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I didn&#39;t forget.</p>
&mdash; Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HilarieBurton/status/917898877663096832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The incident took place in 2003, on the MTV show Total Request Live.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Video footage of the incident and that of the presenter -- Hilarie Burton -- talking about it on TRL Uncensored went viral on social media after it was pointed out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Burton had said on TRL Uncensored back then that Affleck had put his around her, and that he then &quot;tweaks my left boob&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Some girls like a good tweakage here and there,&quot; she had added,&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;d rather have a high five.&quot;</p>

<p><em>Watch video below:</em>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PsI-3QWwHaI" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Affleck later wrote on Twitter: &quot;I acted inappropriately toward Ms Burton and I sincerely apologise.&quot;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/f5AgemRXds">pic.twitter.com/f5AgemRXds</a></p>
&mdash; Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenAffleck/status/917787533802655744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>In his original condemnation of Weinstein, Affleck had written that he was &quot;saddened and angry&quot; by the accusations against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had added: &quot;The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick. This is completely unacceptable, and I find myself asking what I can do to make sure this doesn&#39;t happen to others.&quot;&nbsp;</p>


The incident took place in 2003, on the MTV show Total Request Live

The actor Ben Affleck has apologised for groping a TV presenter. I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize — Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) October 11, 2017 × The apology came after Affleck posted condemnation of the producer Harvey Weinstein on Twitter, and a user reminded him of how he had also "grabbed Hilarie Burton's breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though." Burton replied to her saying: "I didn't forget." He also grabbed Hilarie Burton's breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though. — Shanice Brim (@ShaniceBrim) October 10, 2017 × I didn't forget. — Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) October 10, 2017 × The incident took place in 2003, on the MTV show Total Request Live. Video footage of the incident and that of the presenter -- Hilarie Burton -- talking about it on TRL Uncensored went viral on social media after it was pointed out. Burton had said on TRL Uncensored back then that Affleck had put his around her, and that he then "tweaks my left boob". "Some girls like a good tweakage here and there," she had added, "I'd rather have a high five." Watch video below: Affleck later wrote on Twitter: "I acted inappropriately toward Ms Burton and I sincerely apologise." pic.twitter.com/f5AgemRXds — Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) October 10, 2017 × In his original condemnation of Weinstein, Affleck had written that he was "saddened and angry" by the accusations against him. He had added: "The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick. This is completely unacceptable, and I find myself asking what I can do to make sure this doesn't happen to others."

Ben Affleck apologises for groping TV host

<p>New York police said Thursday they have opened an investigation into allegations of a 2004 sexual assault by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.</p>

<p>An avalanche of claims of sexual harassment, assault and rape by the hugely influential Hollywood producer have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behavior dating back decades.</p>

<p>A spokesman for the New York Police Department confirmed to AFP it is investigating the 2004 case, but provided no details. New York state has no statute of limitations on most serious felonies, including rape.</p>

<p>The New York Daily News reported that the case involved aspiring actress Lucia Evans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The New Yorker magazine reported Tuesday that Evans said Weinstein had forced her to perform oral sex on him. The magazine quotes two other women as accusing him of rape.</p>

<p>In 2015, the New York police opened an investigation into a complaint by Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, who said Weinstein had sexually attacked her in a hotel room. Police had her make a secret recording, in which Weinstein could be heard repeatedly insisting that she come into his room, which she refused to do.</p>

<p>But prosecutor Cyrus Vance said there was insufficient proof to pursue charges.</p>

<p><strong>Hollywood shaken&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The allegations against one of cinema&#39;s titans, a man whose studio has garnered more than 300 Oscar nominations, have shaken Hollywood, which has long battled against a reputation for exploiting female actors, bypassing female directors and overlooking female-centered scripts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Weinstein&#39;s accusers include such bold-named actresses as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and actor/singer Ashley Judd.</p>

<p>Others actors as prominent as Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet said they had long heard rumors but never personally had problems with Weinstein.</p>

<p>&quot;The behavior is inexcusable,&quot; wrote Streep, &quot;but the abuse of power familiar.&quot;</p>

<p>With the allegations pouring in, Weinstein was fired by his own company, and his wife, Georgina Chapman, reportedly plans to divorce him.</p>

<p>Members of the Weinstein Company board have insisted they were unaware of payments he had made to women who complained, calling the allegations &quot;an utter surprise.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the Times quoted David Boies, a lawyer who represented Weinstein in contract talks, as saying the board was aware of three or four confidential settlements.</p>

<p><strong>&#39;A lot of pain&#39;</strong></p>

<p>Another of his lawyers, Lisa Bloom, resigned, but only after saying on ABC that Weinstein had &quot;behaved badly over the years.&quot;</p>

<p>The producer has apologized for his behavior and acknowledged having &quot;caused a lot of pain,&quot; but denied specific charges and threatened to sue the Times.</p>

<p>He is said to be heading to a rehabilitation program in Europe, reportedly to be treated for sex addiction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The allegations against a man who is a prominent liberal and major Democratic Party fundraiser sent tremors through the party, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton accused of waiting too long to disavow Weinstein. Obama since said he was &quot;disgusted&quot; and Clinton that she was &quot;appalled&quot; by the alleged acts.</p>

<p>Weinstein and his brother Bob, co-founders of Miramax Films, burst onto the indie scene with &quot;Sex, Lies and Videotape&quot; in 1989 and turned relatively low-budget films like &quot;Shakespeare in Love&quot; and &quot;Pulp Fiction&quot; into huge box-office hits.</p>


An avalanche of claims of sexual harassment, assault and rape by the hugely influential Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein, have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behavior dating back decades

New York police said Thursday they have opened an investigation into allegations of a 2004 sexual assault by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. An avalanche of claims of sexual harassment, assault and rape by the hugely influential Hollywood producer have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behavior dating back decades. A spokesman for the New York Police Department confirmed to AFP it is investigating the 2004 case, but provided no details. New York state has no statute of limitations on most serious felonies, including rape. The New York Daily News reported that the case involved aspiring actress Lucia Evans. The New Yorker magazine reported Tuesday that Evans said Weinstein had forced her to perform oral sex on him. The magazine quotes two other women as accusing him of rape. In 2015, the New York police opened an investigation into a complaint by Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, who said Weinstein had sexually attacked her in a hotel room. Police had her make a secret recording, in which Weinstein could be heard repeatedly insisting that she come into his room, which she refused to do. But prosecutor Cyrus Vance said there was insufficient proof to pursue charges. Hollywood shaken The allegations against one of cinema's titans, a man whose studio has garnered more than 300 Oscar nominations, have shaken Hollywood, which has long battled against a reputation for exploiting female actors, bypassing female directors and overlooking female-centered scripts. Weinstein's accusers include such bold-named actresses as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and actor/singer Ashley Judd. Others actors as prominent as Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet said they had long heard rumors but never personally had problems with Weinstein. "The behavior is inexcusable," wrote Streep, "but the abuse of power familiar." With the allegations pouring in, Weinstein was fired by his own company, and his wife, Georgina Chapman, reportedly plans to divorce him. Members of the Weinstein Company board have insisted they were unaware of payments he had made to women who complained, calling the allegations "an utter surprise." But the Times quoted David Boies, a lawyer who represented Weinstein in contract talks, as saying the board was aware of three or four confidential settlements. 'A lot of pain' Another of his lawyers, Lisa Bloom, resigned, but only after saying on ABC that Weinstein had "behaved badly over the years." The producer has apologized for his behavior and acknowledged having "caused a lot of pain," but denied specific charges and threatened to sue the Times. He is said to be heading to a rehabilitation program in Europe, reportedly to be treated for sex addiction. The allegations against a man who is a prominent liberal and major Democratic Party fundraiser sent tremors through the party, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton accused of waiting too long to disavow Weinstein. Obama since said he was "disgusted" and Clinton that she was "appalled" by the alleged acts. Weinstein and his brother Bob, co-founders of Miramax Films, burst onto the indie scene with "Sex, Lies and Videotape" in 1989 and turned relatively low-budget films like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction" into huge box-office hits.

New York police probing 2004 Weinstein sexual assault case

<p>Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from his film studio The Weinstein Company on Sunday following reports that he sexually harassed women over several decades.</p>

<p>&quot;In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company... have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,&quot; the company&#39;s board said in a statement quoted by US media.</p>

<p>The firing came after The New York Times published a bombshell report earlier this week that alleged Weinstein, whose company produced such hits as &quot;The King&#39;s Speech&quot; and &quot;The Artist,&quot; preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.</p>

<p>The accusers -- reportedly including celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd -- say Weinstein promised to help advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours, and that he pressured them to massage him and watch him naked.</p>

<p>Republicans have pounced on the scandal because Weinstein has been a major backer of Democratic candidates. Many Democratic lawmakers have since vowed to give their contributions from Weinstein to charity.</p>

<p>President Donald Trump, who said he had known Weinstein for a &quot;very long time,&quot; said he was &quot;not at all surprised&quot; by the revelations.</p>

<p>Trump faced his own sex scandal last year when video emerged of him using lewd language to describe groping women.</p>

<p><strong>Hollywood powerhouse fades</strong><br />
Many in the entertainment industry have spoken out in the wake of the allegations, expressing support for the alleged victims.</p>

<p>&quot;The women who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe,&quot; actress and self-proclaimed feminist Lena Dunham said. &quot;It&#39;s not fun or easy, it&#39;s brave.&quot;</p>

<p>Five of the company&#39;s nine all-male board members have resigned over the scandal. The remaining members are Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar.</p>

<p>It was not immediately clear what would happen to the share Weinstein owns in the company.</p>

<p>In a statement, Weinstein -- a staunch Democratic campaign fundraiser who backed Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid -- said he respected all women and was hoping for a second chance while acknowledging he had &quot;work to do to earn it.&quot;</p>

<p>His lawyer Charles Harder, hired to prepare a lawsuit against the Times, said the newspaper&#39;s report &quot;relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different eyewitnesses.&quot;</p>

<p>He promised to donate any proceeds from the lawsuit to women&#39;s organizations.</p>

<p>A father-of-two married to British fashion designer Georgina Chapman, Weinstein is considered a powerhouse in Hollywood and many of his movies have picked up Oscars over the years, including &quot;Good Will Hunting&quot; and &quot;The Artist.&quot;</p>

<p>He formed the Miramax production house in the late 1970s with his brother and then sold it to Disney. The pair went on to create the highly successful Weinstein Company.</p>


A New York Times report earlier this week alleged that Weinstein, whose company produced such hits as 'The King's Speech' and 'The Artist,' preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from his film studio The Weinstein Company on Sunday following reports that he sexually harassed women over several decades. "In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company... have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the company's board said in a statement quoted by US media. The firing came after The New York Times published a bombshell report earlier this week that alleged Weinstein, whose company produced such hits as "The King's Speech" and "The Artist," preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry. The accusers -- reportedly including celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd -- say Weinstein promised to help advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours, and that he pressured them to massage him and watch him naked. Republicans have pounced on the scandal because Weinstein has been a major backer of Democratic candidates. Many Democratic lawmakers have since vowed to give their contributions from Weinstein to charity. President Donald Trump, who said he had known Weinstein for a "very long time," said he was "not at all surprised" by the revelations. Trump faced his own sex scandal last year when video emerged of him using lewd language to describe groping women. Hollywood powerhouse fades Many in the entertainment industry have spoken out in the wake of the allegations, expressing support for the alleged victims. "The women who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe," actress and self-proclaimed feminist Lena Dunham said. "It's not fun or easy, it's brave." Five of the company's nine all-male board members have resigned over the scandal. The remaining members are Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the share Weinstein owns in the company. In a statement, Weinstein -- a staunch Democratic campaign fundraiser who backed Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid -- said he respected all women and was hoping for a second chance while acknowledging he had "work to do to earn it." His lawyer Charles Harder, hired to prepare a lawsuit against the Times, said the newspaper's report "relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different eyewitnesses." He promised to donate any proceeds from the lawsuit to women's organizations. A father-of-two married to British fashion designer Georgina Chapman, Weinstein is considered a powerhouse in Hollywood and many of his movies have picked up Oscars over the years, including "Good Will Hunting" and "The Artist." He formed the Miramax production house in the late 1970s with his brother and then sold it to Disney. The pair went on to create the highly successful Weinstein Company.

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein fired after sexual harassment claims

harvey-weinstein

Harvey Weinstein, News on Harvey Weinstein, stories on Harvey Weinstein, articles on Harvey Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein stories at Wion, Harvey Weinstein news, Harvey Weinstein latest news

harvey weinstein