Harvey Weinstein was rushed to the hospital for an emergency heart surgery, including pericardiocentesis, following his transfer to state prison. His condition reportedly deteriorated further due to COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Weinstein "suffers from a plethora of significant health issues that need ongoing treatment," his representative Juda Engelmayer said.
Weinstein's first trial marked a legal milestone, with the jury basing its verdict on the testimonies of multiple women, despite a lack of irrefutable evidence. It resulted in multiple convictions, accumulating to a total sentence of 49 years, including a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction.
Weinstein maintains that any sexual encounters were consensual and has consistently denied allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Weinstein's downfall began with multiple accusations from female actors, culminating in the 2017 emergence of the #MeToo movement. Over 90 women have come forward with claims of sexual abuse or harassment by Weinstein. In the UK, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped its indecent assault case against Weinstein in 2022, stating there was "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction."
In his journey through the legal system, Weinstein's health has been a recurring concern. He has been in and out of Bellevue Hospital, including being relocated from Rikers Island due to severe medical conditions and spending 10 days there in April.
Weinstein's professional life once mirrored his influence in Hollywood. He co-founded Miramax Films in 1979 and produced several Oscar-winning films, including 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Shakespeare in Love'
His personal life has also seen significant changes. Georgina Chapman, Weinstein's ex-wife, reportedly left him in 2017 amid his misconduct allegations and started dating Adrien Brody. They were seen together at several public events, including the Venice Film Festival. Chapman attended a screening for Brody's upcoming film "The Brutalist," which received a 13-minute standing ovation.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Daily Mail Online, Le Monde, washingtonexaminer.com, marketwatch.com, The Indian Express, New York Post, Gulf News, India Today.