Harvey Weinstein reaches £35million settlement with women in the UK and US who accused him of sexual harassment
HARVEY Weinstein has agreed to pay £35million to women accusing him of sexual harassment, it emerged this morning.
The shamed Hollywood producer, 67, will fork out £24m in compensation – with the remaining £11m going on legal fees.
But the payout will not affect criminal charges levelled against Weinstein – who will stand trial in New York in September accused of rape and other sex crimes.
Adam Harris, a lawyer for Weinstein’s brother and studio co-founder Bob, revealed the “tentative” settlement yesterday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
He told the US Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday: “For the first time, as of yesterday… we now have an economic agreement in principle that is supported by the plaintiffs, the [New York attorney general’s] office, the defendants and all of the insurers.”
The money will reportedly come from insurance policies.
A compensation pot of £24m will be split among 15 accusers who filed lawsuits against him – as well as creditors owed money from Weinstein’s collapsed film studio.
Some of the women involved in the class action lawsuit have alleged assaults dating back 25 years.
Weinstein fell from grace after more than 70 women – mostly young actresses and others in the movie business – accused him of sexual misconduct dating back decades.
He has denied all accusations and said any contact was consensual.
His criminal trial in New York is over allegations he forcibly performed oral sex on a woman in 2006 and raped another woman in 2013.
Weinsten has pleaded not guilty.
More to follow…
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