British actor Cara Delevingne accuses US film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape
The Cannes Film Festival expressed displeasure over executive’s actions while BAFTA suspended his membership to the organisation.
Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is facing multiple allegations of gross sexual misconduct that go back to the 1990s, has now been accused of sexual harassment by English actor and model Cara Delevingne. In a post on Instagram on Wednesday night, Delevingne said that Weinstein tried to get her to kiss another woman, and attempted to kiss her himself when she tried to leave. He also allegedly asked her about her sexuality and told her that she would not “make it as an actress in Hollywood” if she was openly homosexual.
“He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips,” Delevingne wrote in the post. “I stopped him and managed to get out of the room. I still got the part for the film and always thought that he gave it to me because of what happened. Since then I felt awful that I did the movie.”
Following a report in the New Yorker that accused Weinstein of raping several women, the producer’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts membership has been suspended. “Whilst BAFTA has previously been a beneficiary of Mr. Weinstein’s support for its charitable work, it considers the reported alleged behaviour completely unacceptable and incompatible with BAFTA’s values,” the official announcement read. “This has led to Mr. Weinstein’s suspension, and it will be followed by a formal process as laid out in BAFTA’s constitution.” However, the producer continues to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Cannes Film Festival rebuked the producer in a statement signed by presidents Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux, which said that they were “dismayed to learn of the accusations of harassment and sexual violence recently leveled against Harvey Weinstein.” Several British politicians also signed an open letter on Wednesday demanding that a royal honour accorded to Weinstein, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, be revoked.
Meanwhile, Weinstein’s wife Georgina Chapman announced that she was separating from the producer. Chapman is the co-founder of the Marchesa luxury brand and has two children with Weinstein. “My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions,” Chapman’s statement said. “I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time.”
Actor Ben Affleck, who has collaborated with Weinstein on several projects, said that he was “saddened and angry” at the producer’s misconduct. However, he was immediately criticised by a Twitter user, who reminded Affleck that he had “grabbed actor Hillary Burton’s breasts” when he appeared on her MTV show Total Request Live in 2013. Affleck has apologised for groping the Burton, tweeting that he “acted inappropriately.”
Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment by several women, including actors Ashley Judd, Gywenth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Léa Seydoux, and Romola Garai. Several Hollywood personalities, including Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Ruffalo have condemned the producer after the allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.
Director Paul Feig is among the latest to rebuke Weinstein, asking men to “speak up” against sexual harassment. “It’s a big sacrifice for women to come forward with this stuff. As we’ve seen over history, they are generally not rewarded for coming forward,” he told The Guardian. Ninety-four-year-old Actor Rose Marie also tweeted her support for women who are speaking about their experiences of sexual harassment.