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 &#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;

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.

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.

&nbsp;Although, she claims she was not&nbsp;comfortable because of&nbsp;what Harvey had done, she still went ahead with a dance audition

Malthe&rsquo;s lawyer Gloria Allred, who appeared alongside Malthe, described it as sexual assault was completely&nbsp;non-consensual.

&ldquo;I had experienced sexual harassment from other powerful men in Hollywood, but my experiences with Harvey were the worst,&rdquo; noted Malthe.

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.

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;

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.

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

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&#39;s misconduct towards women when the scandal first broke out.

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.

&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.

&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.

Damon, however, said that Weinstein&#39;s womanising nature was known to the industry.

&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;

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.

&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;

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.

Weinstein&#39;s previous company Miramax had produced Damon and Affleck&#39;s breakout film, &quot;Good Will Hunting&quot;.&nbsp;

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

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.

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;

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&#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.

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.

&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;

The actor said that the behaviour was about having control over people and not about sex, reported Marie Claire.

&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).

&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;

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.

&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.

&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.

Priyanka added women have been told that femininity is a weakness since time immemorial and there cannot be a bigger myth.

&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.

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.

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

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;

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>

In the post, Agarwal expressed &ldquo;many issues&rdquo; with the &ldquo;Me Too&rdquo; campaign &ldquo;at many levels.&rdquo;

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;

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;

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;

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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>
&mdash; the zibi (@zibijamal) <a href="https://twitter.com/zibijamal/status/920703537847328769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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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;

&nbsp;

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

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&#39;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 &quot;... Ratified its decision to terminate&quot; 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.&nbsp;

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>

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>

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

<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.

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;

&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.

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;

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;

&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.

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;

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;

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;

<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>

- 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 &quot;the most feared, dreaded woman in the drugs business&quot; in the 1970s and 1980s before the rise of Pablo Escobar.

&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;

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 &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;

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;.

&quot;She never left the house other than to kill someone,&quot; said Zeta-Jones.

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;

&quot;Normally I sleep propped up on pillows&quot; during shoots so that doesn&#39;t happen, she said.

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

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.

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&#39;s Channel Nine she went back to his hotel room with a group of his colleagues and they were eventually left alone.

&quot;He left the room and came back naked,&quot; she alleged late Sunday.&nbsp;

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&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;

On reflection, she believes she was manipulated and targeted, not only by Weinstein but his accomplices who set up the situation.

&quot;I had been played by not just one predator but all his accomplices. Yuck,&quot; 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 &quot;Thor&quot; stars Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth the latest to condemn his behaviour.

&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.

Hemsworth said he believed the scandal would change Tinseltown for the better.

&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.

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

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.

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 &quot;The Artist&quot; had received the Legion of Honour, &quot;Chevalier&quot; 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 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

<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.

<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.

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>

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 &quot;an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police.&quot; It did not elaborate.&nbsp;

The Daily Telegraph said the case involved an actress now understood to be living in the Liverpool area.&nbsp;

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.

&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;

As he climbed into an oversized sports utility vehicle, he said he hoped people would give him &quot;a second chance.&quot;

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.&nbsp;

Obama eventually said he was &quot;disgusted&quot; and Clinton that she was &quot;appalled&quot; 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.&nbsp;

Weinstein&#39;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 &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.

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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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 &quot;Sex, Lies and Videotape,&quot; &quot;Shakespeare in Love&quot; and &quot;Pulp Fiction.&quot;

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

The actor Ben Affleck has apologised for groping a TV presenter.&nbsp;

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I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize
&mdash; Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenAffleck/status/918166049501208576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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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;

Burton replied to her saying: &quot;I didn&#39;t forget.&quot;&nbsp;

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He also grabbed Hilarie Burton&#39;s breasts on TRL once. Everyone forgot though.
&mdash; Shanice Brim (@ShaniceBrim) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaniceBrim/status/917858247847104517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I didn&#39;t forget.
&mdash; Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HilarieBurton/status/917898877663096832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The incident took place in 2003, on the MTV show Total Request Live.&nbsp;

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;

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;

&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;

Watch video below:&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PsI-3QWwHaI" width="560"></iframe>

Affleck later wrote on Twitter: &quot;I acted inappropriately toward Ms Burton and I sincerely apologise.&quot;

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<a href="https://t.co/f5AgemRXds">pic.twitter.com/f5AgemRXds</a>
&mdash; Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenAffleck/status/917787533802655744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In his original condemnation of Weinstein, Affleck had written that he was &quot;saddened and angry&quot; by the accusations against him.&nbsp;

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;

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

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.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

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;

Weinstein&#39;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.

&quot;The behavior is inexcusable,&quot; wrote Streep, &quot;but the abuse of power familiar.&quot;

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 &quot;an utter surprise.&quot;&nbsp;

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.

&#39;A lot of pain&#39;

Another of his lawyers, Lisa Bloom, resigned, but only after saying on ABC that Weinstein had &quot;behaved badly over the years.&quot;

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.

He is said to be heading to a rehabilitation program in Europe, reportedly to be treated for sex addiction.&nbsp;

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.

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.

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

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.

&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.

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.

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 &quot;very long time,&quot; said he was &quot;not at all surprised&quot; 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.

&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;

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.

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 &quot;work to do to earn it.&quot;

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;

He promised to donate any proceeds from the lawsuit to women&#39;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 &quot;Good Will Hunting&quot; and &quot;The Artist.&quot;

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.

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