Harvey Weinstein Apologizes For Using Names Of Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep In Lawsuit
Harvey Weinstein is apologizing to Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep after citing their names in an attempt to get his lawsuit for sexual misconduct dismissed.
In an official statement made in The Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein's representative acknowledged the input of the two A-list actresses and apologized for dragging their names into the case.
"Moving forward, Mr. Weinstein has advised his counsel to not include specific names of former associates and to avoid whenever possible, even if they are in the public record," his rep continues.
Lawyers Cite Streep, Lawrence
Last Tuesday, Weinstein and his team of lawyers requested the dismissal of a racketeering lawsuit filed against the Hollywood mogul by six women who accused him of sexually assaulting or harassing them.
Weinstein's lawyers pointed at the invalidity of the class-action status of the case, saying the claims would apply to every women who met or worked with the mogul, whether or not they claimed to have been abused.
Streep and Lawrence were specifically mentioned. In the motion filed to the New York federal judge, the lawyers behind Weinstein picked out parts of their official statements on the tycoon and claimed both Oscar-winning actresses had good relationships with him.
Gwyneth Paltrow was also named in the motion with Weinstein's counsel pointing out that while the Goop founder alleged to have been harassed while filming Emma, she worked with Weinstein again in Shakespeare in Love.
The actresses responded quickly to their names being used in the motion with Streep calling the move pathetic and exploitive.
Lawrence said Weinstein is a predator, saying that his team acted like they've always done by taking her words out of context so they could benefit from them.
Weinstein's Apology
The response from Weinstein's camp comes just as quick with the lawyers accepting responsibility for naming his former Hollywood colleagues. The official statement stresses that they will be keeping names out of court as they move forward.
"Even though Mr. Weinstein has worked with hundreds of actresses and actors who had only professional and mutually respectful experiences with him, Mr. Weinstein has directed in the future that no specific names be used by his counsel, even where those actors have made previous public statements about him," the rep concludes.
The list of Weinstein's alleged victims is a long one with the mogul facing over 70 sexual misconduct allegations since the reports first broke in October 2017. Weinstein has denied all nonconsensual claims made against him.
