Oprah Winfrey Denies Calling Harvey Weinstein to Show Support, Agrees to Talk on One Condition
Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein allegedly got Oprah Winfrey's support amid his numerous sexual harassment accusations. Winfrey, however, only wants to talk to the former owner of The Weinstein Company (TWC) on one condition.
Weinstein reportedly told friends over and over that Winfrey is on his side. The media mogul apparently called him up to encourage him to defend himself.
A representative from Winfrey's camp, however, denied that the calls to Harvey were about expressing her support. Winfrey did not even speak to the producer personally.
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Instead, the call Winfrey's people made was about asking Weinstein for an interview for "60 Minutes." Since September, the talk show host signed on to become its special correspondent and her interest in seeking Weinstein was for a story.
She will only talk to him if he agrees to an interview. For now, however, nothing has been set.
"She was only interested if he'd look in the mirror and give her the honest, bone marrow truth," a rep for Winfrey said.
Winfrey joined her colleagues last week in calling out Weinstein for sexual harassment. She thanked the women who opened up about the attacks and moves Weinstein made on them.
"This is the story of one predator and his many victims; but it is also a story about an overwhelming systemic enabling, and until that story is fully told we will fall far short of stopping future depredations on a similar scale," Winfrey wrote, while quoting James Schamus.
The TWC board fired Weinstein after actresses like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rosanna Arquette, Rose McGowan, Cara Delevigne, Asia Argento and Kate Beckinsale came forward to confirm that the producer sexually harassed them. The Oscar body also recently expelled him from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Weinstein is currently in a rehabilitation facility in Arizona. He plans on challenging his firing from TWC when the board convenes on Tuesday, Oct. 17, since his contract allegedly stated he could keep his job for as long a he can settle any sexual harassment cases against him.
