Jessica Chastain has revealed that she was “warned” about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
The Oscar-nominee has spoken out about the film producer, after he was fired from the Weinstein Company on Sunday following reports that he sexually harassed women over several decades.
On Monday, Jessica tweeted, “I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again.”
A number of high-profile actresses have condemned Harvey Weinstein’s alleged actions since the news broke, including Jennifer Lawrence.
I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an enviornment for it to happen again.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) October 9, 2017
The popular actress, who worked with Weinstein on her Oscar-winning film Silver Linings Playbook, told The Hollywood Reporter, “I worked with Harvey five years ago and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations.”
“My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward.”
Meanwhile, Meryl Streep, who has worked with Weinstein a number of times, released a statement to The Huffington Post.
“The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes,” she wrote.
“One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally…
“The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
Actress Glenn Close has also spoken out, and admitted that she was aware of the rumours over the years.
Speaking to The New York Times, Glenn said, “I’m sitting here, deeply upset, acknowledging to myself that, yes, for many years, I have been aware of the vague rumors that Harvey Weinstein had a pattern of behaving inappropriately around women. Harvey has always been decent to me, but now that the rumors are being substantiated, I feel angry and darkly sad.”
“I’m angry, not just at him and the conspiracy of silence around his actions, but also that the ‘casting couch’ phenomenon, so to speak, is still a reality in our business and in the world: the horrible pressure, the awful expectation put on a woman when a powerful, egotistical, entitled bully expects sexual favors in exchange for a job.”
Judi Dench also released a statement saying, “Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.”
Although plenty of actresses have spoken out, famed male actors in Hollywood have been less vocal.
It’s been reported that The Guardian newspaper contacted 20 actors and directors who have worked with Harvey Weinstein, including Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Affleck – but they all failed to respond or declined to comment.
However, movie star George Clooney, who has worked with Harvey a number of times over two decades, told The Daily Beast, “I’ve heard rumours, and the rumours in general started back in the ’90s, and they were that certain actresses had slept with Harvey to get a role.
It seemed like a way to smear the actresses and demean them by saying that they didn’t get the jobs based on their talent, so I took those rumours with a grain of salt. There’s nothing to say except that it’s indefensible”, he said, before confirming, “I can tell you that I’ve never seen any of this behaviour – ever.”
