Details Of Harvey Weinstein’s Final Days Before Downfall Are Revealed
Many entertainment insiders would consider Oct. 5, 2017 a date that changed Hollywood forever. It was the day that the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke.
Recently, Vanity Fair released an in-depth dossier detailing the final days before Weinstein's professional life was destroyed. Weinstein knew about the mighty atomic bombs that The New York Times and The New Yorker were about to drop on him. He quickly rallied his remaining allies to prepare to defend his reputation.
From assembling his legal team to crafting statements with his public relations head, Weinstein was preparing for war. Also, many of his employees continued to see Weinstein deteriorate right before their eyes. Furthermore, the disgraced Oscar-winning producer was looking for funds for his upcoming legal battles.
A Potential Suspect
One person that Weinstein and his crew might point the finger at for his downfall is Frank Gil. Gil, who served as the Weinstein Company's vice president of human resources, snuck into several of Weinstein's business locations and stole several crucial files on Oct. 1, 2017.
The Weinstein Company officials believe that Gil made off with several essential records, which included documents from 2016 and 2017, that belonged to Weinstein. Gil was placed on administrative leave after company officials found out about his actions and he declined to give statements due to a non-disclosure agreement.
Harvey Weinstein's Friends
Two days before the detrimental stories broke, Weinstein and his associates had summoned one of the company's Internet technology specialists to access a top secret document that was nicknamed "HW Friends."
These alleged friends included the names of 63 women that were spread out across the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. While Weinstein and his associates thought that they were successful in destroying the file on the company's computer servers, it somehow resurfaced and was now in Vanity Fair's custody.
The Flood Gates Open
As soon as the New York Times and the New Yorker dropped their atomic bombs, a massive door of sexual misconduct allegations was suddenly opened. The sexual misconduct scandal hit a plethora of powerhouses that included television talents such as Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, and Mario Batali and influential entertainment figures such as Kevin Spacey and Russell Simmons.
The world was shocked as actresses such as Ashley Judd, Mina Sorvino, Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Salma Hayek revealed that at some point in their careers, Weinstein sexually assaulted them. Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was also attacked at an Arizona restaurant while he was receiving treatment for sex addiction.
The Time's Up Movement Takes Shape
While Weinstein continued to face countless battles of legal litigation, a group of Hollywood's most influential women began to set the stage for the Time's Up movement. This leaderless organization rounded up the funds necessary to help not just celebrities and entertainment industry employees but also women in other businesses to take their accusers to court.
As of this story's publication, 84 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
