HOLLYWOOD—In Hollywood, stories of scandals, don’t just sell movies and television shows, they’re woven into the fabric of a town that has no limits- especially when it comes to celebrities. Anything from public meltdowns to private affairs, these are the tales that have come to dominate and define Hollywood- where any vice is a headline, and every star has a role to play.
We all heard about the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The Oscar-winning movie producer is at the center of a sexual harassment scandal, which has led him to being sacked by his own company. Actress Meryl Streep, has spoken against him, saying the claims left her “appalled.” Others have come forward, including Kate Winslet, Emma Watson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and many more.
The real question on everyone’s mind is, what’s next for Harvey Weinstein? The man behind such hits as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love” reportedly did not want to leave The Weinstein Company, but was fired anyway. He was apologetic yet aggressive last week when the New York Times, broke the story and he threatened to sue the paper.
Since then, he’s been deserted by both his attorney Lisa Bloom and his legal crisis adviser Lanny Davis. Now, his wife Georgina Chapman has left him. As of press time, no word of his threats of legal action, but it looks like he has hired, Blair Berk. Believe it or not, Harvey can possibly bounce back, like other disgraced Hollywood figures who have returned to the limelight.
Take Mel Gibson, for instance, he was back on Hollywood’s red carpets earlier this year, despite an Anti-Semitic rant during a public meltdown 11 years ago, although the allegations against Weinstein put him in a different situation. Weinstein’s firing comes after a number of high-profile men have left their jobs amid claims of sexual misconduct. These include Roger Ailes, Bill O’ Reilly and Eric Bolling at Fox News and Ain’t It Cool News founder Harry Knowles. Bill Cosby is also facing a retrial over sexual assault charges. Hollywood’s power is dying because society has changed and grown, and yet Hollywood male behavior has not. Men in high power in Hollywood, need to change.
While Weinstein may have been fired, an internal investigation will still go ahead. The company has retained an independent law firm “to undertake a thorough and independent investigation.” No doubt, this will be a financial burden on the company,with Forbes reporting such investigations can cost between $20 million and $40 million to carry out. Forbes also said the company would find it ore expensive to raise funds in the future.
Weinstein and his brother Bob own 42 percent of the company, but its unclear how profitable the company has been in recent years. The company has started to move into TV production, but without its most famous figurehead and driving force, who knows what will happen with any deals that have been signed. One third of the company’s all-male board resigned when the allegations emerged. They may even change the name of the company, in an attempt to brush it under the carpet.
How will his films do, in this awards season? This year the company is pushing “Wind River,” a wintry thriller starring Jeremy Renner and Mary Elizabeth Olsen. “The Current War,” produced by Weinstein and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, is also a possible awards contender, despite receiving mixed reviews. Let’s not forget his political connections. He was a prominent donor to the Democratic Party during the 2016 election campaign. The DNC, according to published reports, will donate over $30,000 in
