Harvey Weinstein has lashed out atGwyneth Paltrowfrom prison, claiming the Oscar-winning actress 'owes her career' to him and accusing her of betraying him by speaking publicly during the #MeToo movement.
In a rare interview byThe Hollywood Reporterfrom New York's Rikers Island jail, the disgraced former Hollywood producer revisited their past relationship and dismissed her allegations as exaggerated.
The comments come as Weinstein, once one of the most powerful figures in the film industry, continues to serve prison time following multiple convictions for sex crimes, while attempting to defend his reputation and recount his version of events.
During the interview, Weinstein revisited an incident that Paltrow has previously described from early in her career.
The actress has said the producer invited her to his hotel room after she was cast in the 1996 adaptation of Emma, where he allegedly suggested a massage. At the time, Paltrow said she was 22 and felt uncomfortable with the request.
Weinstein insisted the interaction was misrepresented.
He claimed that after a professional meeting he casually suggested a massage but said Paltrow declined and that he immediately backed off. In recounting the moment, Weinstein argued that nothing physical happened and maintained that he 'got the message'.
He also alleged that actorBrad Pitt, who was dating Paltrow at the time after meeting her on the set of Se7en, later confronted him about the encounter. According to Weinstein, Pitt warned him not to repeat the behaviour with his girlfriend, a conversation Weinstein said he accepted without dispute.
'I never put my hands on her. She told Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt came to me and said, 'Don't do anything like that with my girl. I said, 'Don't worry, Brad. I got it."
However, what appears to have angered Weinstein most is that Paltrow later spoke publicly about the experience during the #MeToo movement.
Source: International Business Times UK
