Christina Applegate's scathing account of confronting Harvey Weinstein has prompted a surprising response from the disgraced film producer, who is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence for rape. The 54-year-old actress, best known for her role in Dead to Me, details the alleged encounter in her new memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, recalling a Hollywood party where she told Weinstein his behavior was "gross."
Applegate's Blunt Confrontation at Miramax Party
In her book, Applegate writes that she overheard Weinstein making a "lascivious" comment about a woman at a Miramax event. Without hesitation, she confronted him, stating, "Oh, come on, man. That's just gross." She describes Weinstein's reaction as a mixture of defiance and fear, noting, "I could tell he was thinking, 'Don't talk to me like that,'" but also sensing he recognized she "doesn't f**k around." Applegate asserts Weinstein "was definitely afraid" of her in that moment.
Weinstein's Unexpectedly Gracious Reply
Through a spokesperson to TMZ, Weinstein issued a statement that took an unexpectedly high road. He described Applegate as both a "gifted actress" and a "powerful voice in Hollywood," adding, "It's good to see her sharing her story and her perspective in her own words." However, the former movie mogul, now 73, contradicted her account by stating, "I do not remember running into Christina Applegate or having that conversation."
Weinstein's Legal and Health Battles Continue
Weinstein, once a Hollywood heavyweight, became a symbol of sexual misconduct after numerous allegations surfaced in 2017. Approximately 60 women have come forward with accusations against him. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence for rape in California while awaiting a third Manhattan trial later this year to resolve a remaining rape charge from his 2025 New York retrial. A status hearing for that trial is scheduled for March 4.
The producer is also battling significant health issues, including cancer, diabetes, spinal stenosis, and a possible immune system problem. His imprisonment marks a dramatic fall from power in an industry he once dominated.
Applegate's Memoir Reveals Personal Struggles
Beyond the Weinstein encounter, Applegate's memoir delves into deeply personal territory. She details a lengthy relationship with an unnamed man who subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse, controlling her wardrobe and diet. Her mother urged her to "get the f**k away from him," while her Married With Children co-star Ed O'Neill "hated" the boyfriend so much she feared violence.
Applegate had an abortion after becoming pregnant by this boyfriend in April 1991 and finally left him following a violent incident where he threw a cigarette lighter at her and forced tequila down her throat. She later married actor Johnathon Schaech in 2001, divorcing in 2007, before wedding Dutch bassist Martyn LeNoble in 2013. They share a 15-year-old daughter, Sadie.
Body Image and Eating Disorder Battles
The actress also opens up about her struggles with body dysmorphia and anorexia, particularly during her time on Married With Children. Playing Kelly Bundy from 1987 to 1997, Applegate writes that she "barely ate" to fit into the character's revealing outfits. "I had to be skinny," she explains, noting that wearing clothes that would "show if you ate something as tiny as a single grape" forced her deeper into her eating disorder.
Despite the role's impact on her mental health, Applegate does not blame the cast or crew, emphasizing, "I wanted to wear those Kelly Bundy dresses." Her memoir, released this week, coincides with her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 2021, adding another layer to her story of resilience.
