The defamed Hollywood big wig Harvey Weinstein has pled not guilty to the rape charges and other acts of sexual misconduct brought against him on Tuesday.
The two victims bringing these charges to court include Lucia Evans and another woman who wishes to remain unnamed. According to Evans’ claims, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex in his Tribeca office in 2004. The unnamed woman claims to have been raped and held against her will in Weinstein’s room at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
An article by Variety stated the following about his arrival at the Manhattan courthouse: “The mogul arrived… shortly before 10 a.m. to enter his plea. He was wearing a dark suit and limping slightly. Cameras flashed around him as he exited a black SUV and navigated the dozens of reporters lining up outside the building and calling out to the mogul for comment. The courthouse was packed, with people turned away. Prominent women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred was among those watching as Weinstein was arraigned.”
Since October, Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. Due to these overwhelming and disheartening accusations, Weinstein has not only been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, but he has been forced out of his own Weinstein Company, among other places.
Although this type of information being brought into the spotlight is certainly scary and tragic to hear about, these accusations have led to a seemingly huge flux in the way that Hollywood hides these types of abuse stories. Women who have allegedly been through these scenarios, specifically within the film and television industry, have been opening up about their experiences so that true change can be made in the industry.
Along with Weinstein, other prominent men within the industry have been outed through accusations of sexual misconduct including Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Spacey, and many others.
This is the first, but possibly not the only case to be brought against Weinstein. Weinstein is currently under constant surveillance through wearing a GPS-monitoring device and is under a $1 million bail agreement.
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