Actor and activist Rose McGowan has described disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein as operating like a "mafia boss", detailing the climate of fear she claims he cultivated within the Hollywood film industry.
The Allegations of Control and Fear
McGowan, who was among the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, stated that his influence was so profound that powerful men would physically shake in his presence. She painted a picture of an industry figure who ruled through intimidation, comparing his alleged dominion to that of an organised crime leader.
Recounting the Sundance Incident
McGowan recounted her own alleged assault by Weinstein, which she says occurred during the Sundance Film Festival. She described being led to a hotel room, where she froze during the incident. She first publicly accused Weinstein of rape in 2017 and later provided a detailed account of the alleged 1997 encounter in her 2018 autobiography, titled Brave.
Legal Consequences and Denials
Harvey Weinstein's legal reckoning has resulted in significant prison sentences. In 2023, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in California for rape and sexual assault. This was in addition to a 23-year sentence from a 2020 conviction in New York. Despite these convictions, Weinstein has consistently denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
McGowan's recent comments reinforce the long-standing claims about the environment surrounding the former mogul, branding him a "thug" who used fear to maintain his position at the pinnacle of the film world for decades.
