Famed Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein Responds To Sexual Harassment Allegations

The New York Times reported yesterday that famed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been sexually assaulting women and paying them to be quiet for decades.

The alleged victims, which include his former employees and actresses, including Ashley Judd, are now stepping forward to tell their stories. They previously felt that their careers were in Weinstein's hands, explaining why they stayed quiet. Eight women reportedly reached settlements with Weinstein quietly in the 1990s and 2015.

Weinstein responded to the bombshell story, taking responsibility for his actions.

"I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go," he said.

The producer recognizes his bad behavior, blaming it on his "com(ing) of age in the 60s and 70s, when all rules about behavior and workplaces were different" and his bad temper. He has agreed to take time off to see a therapist and deal with the issues.

These reports are based on multiple allegations, including a 2015 memo from colleague Lauren O'Connor, who listed his actions out in detail, including details of forced massages from multiple women. Weinstein still thinks that most of the allegations found in this memo are false, as reported by The New York Post.

"The Times used that entire memo as the basis of their story, but in reality it was withdrawn two days after it was written, O'Connor withdrew her complaint, and withdrew her claims made in the memo. The document doesn't stand up," he said.

Weinstein plans on suing The New York Times, despite claiming responsibilities for his actions.

"What I am saying is that I bear responsibility for my actions, but the reason I am suing is because of the Times' inability to be honest with me, and their reckless reporting. They told me lies. They made assumptions. The Times had a deal with us that they would tell us about the people they had on the record in the story, so we could respond appropriately, but they didn't live up to the bargain. The Times editors were so fearful they were going to be scooped by New York Magazine and they would lose the story, that they went ahead and posted the story filled with reckless reporting, and without checking all they had with me and my team," he said to The Post.

He also believes that The New York Times is personally after him, as they just wrote a negative article about his dealings with amfAR, an AIDS foundation, last week.

"They never wrote about the documentary I did with Jay-Z about Rikers Island, they never write that I raised $50 million for amfAR, nor my work with Robin Hood - instead they focus on trying to bring me down. This is a vendetta, and the next time I see [Times executive editor] Dean Baquet, it will be across a courtroom," he said.

The New York Times claims that they are 100% accurate in their reporting, releasing the following statement in response to Weinstein's criticism.

"Mr. Weinstein was aware and able to respond to specific allegations in our story before publication. In fact, we published his response in full," they said.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos