Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film producer, was rushed from New York’s Rikers Island prison to Bellevue Hospital for emergency heart surgery.
The 72-year-old, who has been battling multiple health issues, underwent the procedure following his hospitalization. His representatives, Craig Rothfeld and Juda Engelmayer confirmed that Weinstein had heart surgery but refrained from disclosing further details.
Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in California on rape charges. Additionally, he was convicted by a New York court in 2020 for sexually assaulting actress Jessica Mann and forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant. For the New York charges, he was handed a 23-year prison sentence.
However, in April 2023, Weinstein’s conviction in the New York case was overturned, a stunning reversal in one of the landmark cases of the #MeToo movement. Prosecutors are considering filing new sexual assault charges against him ahead of his retrial, with a procedural hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Weinstein’s health has been deteriorating during his incarceration, with his lawyer, Arthur Aidala, citing his client’s severe diabetes and other medical conditions.
Weinstein has appeared frail and in a wheelchair during recent court appearances.
Once a dominant figure in Hollywood, Weinstein’s downfall in 2017 ignited the global #MeToo movement, as over 80 women, including high-profile actresses like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd, accused him of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. Weinstein continues to maintain that all interactions were consensual.
He and his brother Bob co-founded Miramax Films in 1979, which became known for producing hits such as "Pulp Fiction," "There Will Be Blood," and "Shakespeare in Love."
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