Former Disney Chief Michael Eisner Brands Harvey Weinstein a 'Pig' and Career's Toughest Challenge
In a candid and revealing new interview, former Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner has opened up about the most arduous period of his storied corporate leadership, pinpointing his professional dealings with the now-imprisoned film mogul Harvey Weinstein as the unequivocal low point. Eisner, who helmed Disney from 1984 to 2005, did not mince words in his assessment, delivering a scathing critique of Weinstein's character and business practices.
'He Lied About Everything': Eisner's Blunt Assessment of Weinstein
Speaking on Graham Bensinger's In Depth podcast, the 83-year-old executive recounted the profound difficulties he faced while managing the relationship with Weinstein, who is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault convictions in California. "He lied about everything," Eisner asserted bluntly. "How do you deal with somebody who never tells the truth?"
Eisner elaborated further, painting a vivid and unflattering portrait of the producer. "He was just a pig. He was rude, but he was a closet intellectual. He looked like a truck driver. He acted like a truck driver. He had great independent film taste and nobody at Disney would deal with him but me," Eisner revealed. He added that Weinstein's unreliability extended to formal agreements, stating, "He couldn't tell the truth, he didn't stick to the contracts."
The Miramax Acquisition: A 'Good, Cheap Deal' with Lasting Regret
The contentious relationship stemmed from a pivotal business decision in 1993, when Eisner orchestrated Disney's acquisition of Miramax Films, the independent studio co-founded by Harvey and his brother Bob Weinstein. The purchase price was $70 million, a sum Eisner described at the time as "a good, cheap deal."
However, with the full benefit of hindsight and knowledge of Weinstein's subsequent criminal convictions, Eisner expressed profound regret. He told Bensinger he would not have proceeded with the acquisition "if I'd thought that I'm bringing a wolf into the hen house." Despite the personal and professional friction, Miramax proved to be a highly profitable venture for Disney during Eisner's tenure, producing Oscar-nominated critical and commercial successes such as Chicago, Gangs of New York, and The Hours.
Weinstein's Legal Saga and Eisner's Disney Legacy
Harvey Weinstein's legal troubles have defined his post-Miramax life. He was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York City in 2020, though that conviction was overturned in 2024, leading to a retrial. In the 2025 retrial, the jury found him guilty on one count of a criminal sexual act while acquitting him on a second and deadlocking on a third rape charge. His separate 2022 conviction in California, for which he is currently serving a 16-year sentence, remains under active appeal.
The Weinstein brothers ultimately departed Miramax in 2005 following persistent clashes with Eisner and Disney's upper management. The studio was later sold to Filmyard Holdings in 2010.
Eisner's own legacy at Disney concluded in 2005 when he was succeeded by Bob Iger. Iger's leadership has seen its own twists, including a brief handover to Bob Chapek in 2020 and Iger's return in 2022 after Chapek's ouster. Iger is scheduled to step down again in March, with Josh D'Amaro poised to take the helm.
Eisner's forthright reflections provide a stark insider's view into one of Hollywood's most infamous chapters, underscoring the profound personal and professional challenges posed by his association with Harvey Weinstein.
