Rose McGowan has spoken out following Harvey Weinstein's conviction for rape and sexual assault, expressing surprise that he was found guilty. In an interview from New York, the actor described waking up to a flood of messages after the verdict, which led her to believe Weinstein must have been convicted. She admitted that, like many others, she expected him to be acquitted due to his powerful defences and the legal system's shortcomings.
McGowan, who accused Weinstein of raping her in 1997, noted that her case was never prosecuted due to statute of limitations laws. She highlighted the absurdity of a system that requires child victims to bring cases within seven years, calling it 'completely rigged'. The actor reflected on the collective relief felt by Weinstein's victims, many of whom saw the trial as a representative case.
She described Weinstein's operations as a 'rape factory', where his daily priority was to meet and assault women. The scandal broke in October 2017 following investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker, but McGowan pointed out that many people had known about his behaviour for years. She recalled a message from a 16-year-old in Australia who had heard about it, illustrating the widespread awareness.
McGowan also discussed the structural factors that protected Weinstein, including his political connections and the sheer number of accusations needed before a case reached court. She questioned whether it would have taken even more accusations if the victims were from minority backgrounds. Despite the conviction, McGowan remains sceptical about Weinstein's incarceration, stating she still finds it hard to believe.
