it never ends

The Harvey Weinstein Chaos Is Only Ramping Up

In one day, the disgraced producer was unanimously expelled by the Producers Guild of America and investigated by the N.Y.P.D.
Harvey Weinstein
Weinstein attends a performance of 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' in London, 2013By Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images.

A hulking morass of doom continues to swirl around Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced producer who has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 40 women. In the last 24 hours, it has been reported that the New York Police Department is investigating two credible allegations of sexual assault against the scandalized Hollywood figure, and that the Producers Guild of America voted unanimously to expel him from its ranks. And Weinstein’s troubles have not just been limited to the U.S.; on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he is looking into ways to strip Weinstein of his Legion of Honor award, while the Metropolitan Police in England are investigating incidents of sexual assault against three women that allegedly happened in London. Brief, but chilling reminder: it is only Monday.

Previously, Weinstein was fired from his company and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the voting body that sets the Academy Awards. (Unlike the unanimous vote from the P.G.A., “well over two-thirds of the Academy’s 54 governors” ended up voting for his expulsion.) While it’s unclear if the famously bullish Weinstein will challenge the Academy’s decision, it has been reported that he doesn’t quite plan on leaving his namesake company without a fight. On Friday, NBC News reported that Weinstein will call into a board meeting on Tuesday to contest his firing. The ousted former leader is reportedly in Arizona to undergo treatment for sex addiction at a rehabilitation clinic.

Meanwhile, the beleaguered company has found a short-term way to get back on its feet, thanks to a cash infusion from private-equity firm Colony Capital. Undone by Weinstein’s scandal, the company has lost several board members and a number of high-profile projects, including Matt Weiner’s upcoming Amazon series The Romanoffs. The T.W.C. collapse has also sunk other projects; Amazon has scrapped its upcoming T.W.C.-David O. Russell series, while the upcoming biopic The Current War, an Oscar hopeful starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has been delayed.

As of now, Weinstein has 15 days to contest the P.G.A.’s decision to expel him, according to Deadline. However, the guild’s statement about Weinstein’s expulsion makes it clear that the divorce will be final:

“This morning, the PGA’s National Board of Directors and Officers decided by unanimous vote to institute termination proceedings concerning Harvey Weinstein’s membership.

As required by the PGA’s Constitution, Mr. Weinstein will be given the opportunity to respond before the Guild makes its final determination on November 6, 2017.

Sexual harassment of any type is completely unacceptable. This is a systemic and pervasive problem requiring immediate industry-wide action. Today, the PGA’s National Board and Officers—composed of 20 women and 18 men—created the Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force specifically charged with researching and proposing substantive and effective solutions to sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

The PGA calls on leaders throughout the entertainment community to work together to ensure that sexual abuse and harassment are eradicated from the industry.”

The TV Academy is reportedly determining next steps for Weinstein’s membership as well. But beyond the stripped honorifics and gilded access to Hollywood’s inner circles, Weinstein could also face serious legal ramifications. The N.Y.P.D. investigations both stem from two allegations made 10 years ago, separate from the allegations made by model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, who captured audio of Weinstein admitting that he groped her breast in 2015, which she then turned over to the N.Y.P.D. (ultimately, the district attorney’s office decided not to press charges, a decision that has been under scrutiny in the wake of Weinstein-gate). Per NBC News, the two new investigations are based on credible allegations, but might not yield criminal charges.

Through the whirlwind of backlash, Weinstein spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister has released the following statement: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.”