Harvey Weinstein’s wife leaves him

Harvey Weinstein’s wife leaves him amid growing claims of sex harassment; audio emerges of producer defending groping model | LISTEN

Georgina Chapman with husband Harvey Weinstein. Picture: Getty Images.

The wife of disgraced movie titan Harvey Weinstein has announced she is leaving him after 10 years of marriage amid growing claims of sexual harassment against him.

Georgina Chapman married Weinstein in 2007 and the couple have two children together, India Pearl, 7, and Dashiell Max Robert, 4.

“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. 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,” Chapman told People Magazine.

The fashion designer was reportedly “furious” at the mounting allegations, and feared for the future of her label, Marchesa.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that fashion insiders wondered if Marchesa could survive the scandal. “No star is ever going to want to wear the brand again,” an unnamed New York fashion publicist told the publication.

Publicists told The Reporter that Weinstein used his power to pressure actresses to wear Marchesa gowns, which became a fixture on the red carpet.

A publicist said actress Sienna Miller was told to wear a Marchesa gown to the 2007 Golden Globes because she was sitting at a table with the Weinsteins. She had starred in a Weinstein-produced film, Factory Girl before the event.

Actress Felicity Huffman was also reportedly told to wear a Marchesa dress on the red carpet or Weinstein would pull funding from her 2005 movie Transamerica.

“He (Weinstein) was the mastermind behind Marchesa — orchestrating deals and using his influence in terms of the celebrity connections for her on behalf of the brand,” an LA fashion publicist told The Hollywood Reporter. The publicist added Chapman was aware of Weinstein’s infidelities, however, “they both benefited from the relationship, but she certainly knew about his bad behaviour.”

Chapman made her decision as Hollywood superstars Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow claimed Weinstein had sexually harassed them, three women alleged he had raped them, and a police tape emerged in which Weinstein can be heard he is “used to” groping women.

A New Yorker investigation revealed that in 2015 New York police set up a sting to prove that Weinstein had groped model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez during a business meeting. After Gutierrez reported the alleged assault, the NYPD put a wire on her before she went to another meeting with Weinstein, this time in a bar. In the recording of the meeting, Gutierrez confronts him over the groping, to which Weinstein replies: “I’m used to that.” He adds: “I won’t do it again.” Weinstein was never charged over the encounter.

Weinstein, in conversation with Gutierrez, admits to groping her. Here’s the audio: https://t.co/zSQbK5NV0c pic.twitter.com/vmrrSUp43w

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) October 10, 2017

It has also emerged that fashion mogul Donna Karan, a friend of Chapman’s, was forced to apologise after appearing to blame Harvey Weinstein’s victims for his sexual harassment.

The 69-year-old designer told reporters on a red carpet in Los Angeles that some women were asking for “trouble” by the way they dress and “presenting themselves the way they do.”

She also praised the disgraced movie mogul, saying he “has done some amazing things” and he and his wife are “wonderful people.”

Social media lit up with attacks on the designer, with some accusing her of hypocrisy and others saying they would never buy her label again.

. @Urban_Zen Please ask #DonnaKaran if I was #askingforit when I was harassed while wearing a suit at a business meeting. Thanks.

— Leslie Grace Hobbs (@leslieunleashed) October 10, 2017

After a lifetime spent mkg revealing clothing 4 women, #DonnaKaran chastises women 4 wearing revealing clothing & being sexually assaulted.

— TheBeardedMuse (@TheBeardedMuse) October 10, 2017

In a statement, Karan said her remarks were taken out of context and don’t represent her feelings. She says she believes “sexual harassment is NOT acceptable and this is an issue that MUST be addressed once and for all regardless of the individual.”

Karan said she’s “truly sorry to anyone that I offended and everyone that has ever been a victim.”