After the Weinstein decision
Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino and other victims respond
Harvey Weinstein during his 2020 trial in New York.
© imago images/UPI Photo
After the verdict against Harvey Weinstein was overturned, prominent women who had accused Weinstein spoke out.
A New York appeals court has overturned the 2020 rape conviction against Harvey Weinstein (72) lifted on April 25th. Actress Ashley Judd (56) and other prominent accusers of the fallen Hollywood mogul express their initial reactions of bewilderment and dismay at this decision.
Ashley Judd: “We know what happened”
Hollywood star Ashley Judd was the first to make allegations against Weinstein in 2017. Opposite the “New York Times” The key figure in the MeToo movement now explained: “This is unfair to those affected. We still live in our truth. And we know what happened.”
Oscar winner Mira Sorvino (56), who had also accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, came forward with a statement on X to speak. Sorvino wrote: “Horrified […]. Since when do courts not allow evidence of previous bad acts to be admitted?” Weinstein’s verdict was overturned, among other things, because a majority of appeal judges criticized the fact that women testified in the trial about allegations that were not part of the indictment.
Actress Katherine Kendall (54), who also accused Weinstein, described today’s decision the “New York Times” as “a terrible reminder that victims of sexual assault simply don’t get justice. I feel completely let down by the justice system at the moment. I’m kind of stunned.”
“Continued failure of the justice system”
The model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, 31, who accused Weinstein of touching her breast and putting his hand under her skirt, said in a statement, also quoted by the New York Times: “If the prosecution takes my case in 2015 “If we had taken it seriously, we wouldn’t be here now. This is a continued failure of the justice system – and the courts – to take those affected seriously and protect our interests.”
Weinstein accuser Louise Gobold, who did not testify in the New York trial, explained to the US magazine “Variety”, that “it sometimes seems as if the legal system operates in a parallel universe”. The actress added: “Everyone knows that Harvey is a sexual predator and that he has harmed countless women. And yet today his conviction was overturned in New York. People are reassuring us this morning that he is still having his conviction in Los Angeles “I have to serve time, but that doesn’t stop me from shaking with shock and outrage.”
New York prosecutors are seeking a new trial against Weinstein
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a statement quoted by Variety: “We will do everything in our power to retry this case and we will continue to advocate for survivors of sexual assault. “