Fashion designer Donna Karan defends friend Harvey Weinstein, says harassed women ‘may be asking for it’

FASHION designer Donna Karan has come under fire for defending her friend Harvey Weinstein, saying harassed women were asking for trouble.

Producer Harvey Weinstein and fashion designer Donna Karan. Picture: Getty

FASHION designer Donna Karan has come to her friend Harvey Weinstein‘s defence ​in a bold way ​ — saying sexually harassed women may be “asking for it” by dressing seductively.

“You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do. What are they asking for? Trouble,” she told the Daily Mail in a red-carpet interview at the CinéFashion Film Awards in LA.

“To see it here in our own country is very difficult, but I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?”

The DKNY founder, who is friends with Weinstein’s wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, described the couple as “wonderful people,” adding: “Harvey has done some amazing things.”

Harvey Weinstein and his wife British fashion designer and actor Georgina Chapman. Picture: AFP

Asked if Weinstein had been “busted,” she reportedly smiled and told the paper, “I don’t think it’s only Harvey Weinstein.”

Her comments are in stark contrast to quotes from Weinstein’s former friends Judi Dench and Meryl Streep, who have both denounced the producer’s actions.

After Weinstein’s history of sexual harassment leaked last week, the 65-year-old movie mogul was fired from The Weinstein Company.

The Twitter response to Donna Karan’s comments has been swift, with many calling for a boycott of the brand.

Harvey Weinstein and Rose McGowan (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Variety Magazine)

Actor Rose McGowan — who has been actively involved in the Weinstein accusations since the beginning — was one of the first to voice her displeasure:

Donna Karan you are a DEPLORABLE Aiding and abetting is a moral crime. You are scum in a fancy dress pic.twitter.com/Vze7lnpdvj

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017

Lisa Bloom: I killed my brand faster that anyone ever before

Donna Karan: hold my beer.....

— Leila Gardner (@leila_gardner) October 10, 2017

OMFG at Donna Karan comments re Harvey Weinstein. Used to love DKNY. Blacklisted for life, victim blaming is never okay.

— Miss Chievious. (@Petit_Galaxie) October 9, 2017

BOYCOTT Donna Karan! How does a woman victim-blame other women? Clothing, regardless of taste, does NOT justify sexual harassment! #GirlBye

— Jolanda Jones (@JonesJolanda) October 9, 2017

I am picturing a bonfire in Times Square fueled by Donna Karan clothes.

— CodeSwitch (@Code_switcher) October 10, 2017

With the New York Post.