Disgraced film producer, Harvey Weinstein who is currently facing multiple charges of sexual assault and misconduct has described himself as the “forgotten man” who no one remembers what he did for women in filmmakers.
The 67-year-old whose trial is due to go on trial next month also complains that his work has been “eviscerated” since his accusers came forward.
Speaking to the New York Post, Weinstein said, “I feel like the forgotten man.”
He added, “I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker. And I’m talking about 30 years ago. I’m not talking about now when it’s vogue. I did it first! I pioneered it!”
“It all got eviscerated because of what happened. They have forgotten my work.” He also said his company “took social issues and tackled them”.
Here’s what he said about his career:
“I made a success out of myself. I had no money, and I built quite an empire with Miramax and decided to give back.”
The former star spoke from a hospital where he underwent surgery. He had described the surgery as a “major operation” on his back. Apparently, he had to release proof that he was not overstating his ailment after being seen with the device outside court last week.
Reacting to his lamentations, a group of his accusers has slammed him saying he is trying to “gaslight society”. They assured him that society would remember him as an “unrepentant abuser”.
The group of 23 women, including Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, and Rosanna Arquette, said: “Harvey Weinstein is trying to gaslight society again. He says in a new interview he doesn’t want to be forgotten. Well, he won’t be.
“[We] will remember [him] as a sexual predator and an unrepentant abuser who took everything and deserves nothing. [We] will remember [him] by the collective will of countless women who stood up and said: ‘Enough.’ We refuse to let this predator rewrite his legacy of abuse.”
Last week, the court increased his bail from $1m (£750,000) to $5m (£3.7m). This follows allegations that he violated bail conditions by mishandling his electronic ankle monitor.
We reported that The Weinstein Company’s creditors agreed to a $25m (£19m) settlement. The settlement is for more than two dozen actresses and former employees who claim Weinstein sexually harassed them.
The disgraced mogul continues to maintain his innocence as he insists there was no non-consensual sex.