Have Harvey Weinstein’s victims finally got justice?
One thing is knowing someone committed sexual assault, a very different thing is repairing the victims damage. Have Harvey Weinstein’s victims got justice? 2020 was the year that changed everything regarding sexual assault through the movement #MeToo, where women were able to point at their aggressors. Specifically, the film industry was one of the most signaled ones.
Harvey Weinstein the former Hollywood producer was found guilty of rape & sexual assault in a key case for the #MeToo movement. Nonetheless, and sadly, he wasn’t the only one, also actors and all kinds of other crew members were found guilty. It takes a lot of nerve to speak up about a traumatic event like sexual assault, since the process can end up being re-victimized.
For all these reasons, speaking up is a very powerful thing to do for victims, but does it make any difference? Aside from canceling the respective aggressor for a while till everyone forgets it, how is it possible to make it up for the victims? Prince Andrew offered a settlement to Virginia Roberts Guiffre and got his military titles taken, but is that enough? What happened in Harvey Weinstein’s case?
Who is Harvey Weinstein?
Harvey Weinstein, born in 1952, is an American film producer who is currently convicted of sexual abuse. Together with his brother Bob, he founded the independent film production company Miramax, with which they produced several well known films. The Crying Game (1992) and Shakespeare in Love (1998) are just a few examples.
Before Weinstein was signaled to be a rapist, he was recognized with fame, fortune and awards. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture as a Producer for Shakespeare in Love. He also got recognition in theater with seven Tony Awards for plays & musicals such as The Producers, Billy Elliot and August (Osage County). He left Miramax, and founded the mini major The Weinstein company with his brother.
He was a successful man in the entertainment industry, but a lot of darkness was hiding below all those awards & fame. In October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker published dozens of sexual assault allegations against Weinstein for harassment, sexual assault, and even rape. As usual, the men got canceled, but also professionally expelled from several studios.
Weinsten’s case justice
Weinstein got kicked out of his own company, as well as from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. No to be punitive, but was that enough? Well, the men got arrested and charged with rape in New York on May 25, 2018, since he was also found guilty of two of five felonies. Weinstein got sentenced to twenty three years in prison.
Weinsteins was initially removed in February at Rikers Island Prison before being transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility. There he was sentenced to sixteen years prison for three additional counts of rape. As if it weren’t enough, in 2020 a New York court found Harvey Weinstein guilty of two of the five charges he was facing. This after being accused of harassment, sexual abuse and rape.
Although the larger charges could have led to a life sentence, the cases for which he was found guilty carry a sentence of between five and twenty-five years in prison.The jury convicted the Hollywood producer of third-degree rape & first-degree criminal sexual act. Yet, he was cleared of the two main charges against him: predatory sexual assault and first degree rape.
This was great news for all the actresses who were once victims of these men. Actress Rose McGowan, one of the women who accused Weinstein of rape, could not hide her satisfaction with the ruling.”The little girl that was me when I was hurt is elated. It’s a great day. She’s taken the rubbish out.” Hopefully, these cases will make it clear there are consequences and victims are getting stronger.
