Former Harvey Weinstein assistant breaks silence
Harvey Weinstein’s former assistant has alleged the film producer attempted to rape a colleague | WATCH INTERVIEW
Harvey Weinstein’s former assistant Zelda Perkins has given her first TV interview, in which she alleges that the Hollywood producer attempted to rape a former colleague at the Venice Film Festival.
Ms Perkins had signed a non-disclosure agreement, but broke her silence on the BBC’s “Newsnight” show.
Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex. Police in the US and UK are investigating multiple allegations against the producer.
“We were at the Venice Film Festival and he tried to rape her,” Ms Perkins said of the alleged incident involving a then-colleague.
The colleague was shaking and in shock and also did not want anyone to find out about the matter, said Ms Perkins, who said she then called Weinstein out of a business meeting to confront him. He denied the accusation.
“He said nothing at all had happened and he swore on the life of his wife and his children, which was his best get-out-of-jail card that he used quite a lot.”
Both Ms Perkins and the colleague subsequently resigned and, Ms Perkins said, she expected criminal proceedings to follow, but her legal team made it clear the options were limited. “The lawyers made it very clear that we did not have many options. Because we hadn’t gone to the police when we were in Venice, we had no physical evidence and ultimately it would be two under-25-year-old womens’ word against Harvey Weinstein, Miramax Film Corporation and, essentially, the Disney company.”
Speaking about working for Mr Weinstein in her early 20s, Perkins spoke about the cult of personality surrounding him in his heyday.
“Harvey, now, everyone sees as this sort of repulsive monster, which he was and is on one hand, but I think what is interesting and what isn’t maybe brought forward is that he was also an extremely exciting, brilliant, stimulating person to be around,” she said.
Mr Weinstein’s lawyers repeated the denial of all allegations of non-consensual sex in a statement given to Newsnight.
Reporter Emily Maitlis said Disney had not yet responded to a request for comment and Miramax had declined to comment.
Reuters
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