Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, 72, was reportedly rushed from a New York prison to a hospital for emergency heart surgery on Monday, according to US media. Weinstein's representatives stated that he was taken to New York's Bellevue Hospital "due to several medical conditions." "We can confirm that Mr. Weinstein underwent a procedure and surgery on his heart today, however, we cannot comment further," said a statement from Craig Rothfeld and Juda Engelmayer.
Weinstein is currently held at Rikers Island prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence following his conviction on rape charges by a California court. Additionally, he was convicted by a New York court in 2020 for the rape and sexual assault of actor Jessica Mann and for forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for these offenses. However, an appeals court overturned that conviction in April, marking a significant reversal in one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement. Weinstein is now awaiting retrial in that case.
Prosecutors are considering bringing new sexual assault charges against him before the retrial, and Weinstein was scheduled to attend a procedural hearing in this matter on Thursday. His lawyers have also sought a retrial in the California case. Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's attorney, revealed in July that his client's health had been deteriorating in prison. The once-powerful film mogul has appeared in court in a wheelchair, looking frail and pale. "He's not a young man, he's a sick man," Aidala stated. "His diabetes is going through the roof."
In 2017, the allegations against Weinstein catalyzed the #MeToo movement, a pivotal moment for women combating sexual misconduct. Over 80 women accused him of harassment, sexual assault, or rape, including prominent actors Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd. Weinstein maintains that any sexual relations in question were consensual. He and his brother Bob co-founded Miramax Films in 1979, a major Hollywood studio known for producing diverse hits such as "Pulp Fiction," "There Will Be Blood," and "Shakespeare in Love."
