Harvey Weinstein’s Aides Kept List of Female ‘Friends’ for Exclusive Events
A former executive assistant to Harvey Weinstein testified on Thursday that the disgraced movie mogul’s team kept a list of female "friends of Harvey" to invite to exclusive events, sometimes categorising them separately on guest lists.
Elizabeth Perz, who worked as one of Weinstein’s executive assistants from 2011 to 2013, took the stand at Weinstein’s sex crimes retrial in New York. According to The Independent, Perz revealed that Weinstein would often ask his assistants to invite these women to events, using the shorthand "Might as well add a FOH column" in emails to colleagues.
The list, which has been described as a roster of well over a dozen names, was kept in the office at Weinstein’s now-defunct production company and was broken down by geography, including "LA Friends" and "Cannes/Etc/all invites". One "LA Friends" entry was Jessica Mann, one of the three women whose allegations are at the heart of the retrial.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges, maintaining that he has never had sexual encounters that weren’t consensual. However, during the last five years, he was convicted of various sex crimes in both New York and California. The retrial is taking place because an appeals court found that his New York trial was tainted by prejudicial testimony and overturned that conviction.
Mann, who was a hairstylist and aspiring actor when she met Weinstein in the early 2010s, is expected to testify in the coming days or week. The other accusers, Miriam Haley and Kaja Sokola, have already taken the stand. According to The Independent, Mann previously painted a complex and emotional picture of a yearslong relationship that began consensually but became "degrading" and volatile and eventually exploded into rape.
Weinstein’s lawyers have argued that Mann willingly had a sexual liaison with him to serve her acting ambitions. However, at the retrial on Thursday, jurors saw messages that Perz had sent to Mann about some Oscars-related parties in 2013. "Harvey would like to extend an invitation to you" and a friend, Perz wrote.
The Independent reports that the Associated Press generally does not identify people who alleged they have been sexually assaulted unless they agree to be identified, which Sokola, Haley and Mann have done. As the trial continues, it is clear that the prosecution is working to establish a pattern of behaviour by Weinstein, with Perz’s testimony providing further insight into the culture of Weinstein’s production company.
In a shocking revelation, Perz’s testimony has highlighted the lengths to which Weinstein’s team went to accommodate his requests for female companionship. The list of "friends of Harvey" and the shorthand used to refer to them suggests a culture of exclusivity and entitlement.
The trial is ongoing, with further testimony expected from Mann and other witnesses. As the case unfolds, The Independent will continue to provide updates and analysis on the proceedings.
According to sources, Weinstein’s production company has been scrutinised for its handling of allegations against him, with many questioning how his behaviour was allowed to continue unchecked for so long. The Independent has previously reported on the widespread culture of sexism and harassment in the film industry, with many women coming forward to share their own experiences of abuse and harassment.
The implications of Weinstein’s alleged actions and the culture of his production company are far-reaching, with many in the film industry and beyond calling for greater accountability and transparency. As the trial continues, The Independent will provide in-depth coverage and analysis of the proceedings.
The Independent has been at the forefront of reporting on the Weinstein scandal, providing breaking news and in-depth analysis of the case. With a commitment to fact-based reporting and a focus on the experiences of those affected, The Independent is a trusted source for news and information on this story.
Original source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/harvey-weinstein-harvey-new-york-california-oscars-b2751960.html
