Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney Blast Harvey Weinstein Allegations as ‘Indefensible,’ ‘Inexcusable’
The word is out about Harvey Weinstein and allegations of sexual harassment and abuse, and many stars have been releasing statements condemning his actions this week. Some, like Jessica Chastain, say they were warned about him, some say they had no idea, and some say they knew about rumors, but hadn’t ever seen anything themselves. Jennifer Lawrence and George Clooney are the latest to issue statements on the matter, calling Weinstein’s actions “inexcusable” and “indefensible.”
Clooney, speaking with The Daily Beast, said that he had only heard rumors of actresses sleeping with Weinstein to get a part, but had no idea about the harassment allegations or subsequent payoffs, as revealed by The New York Times exposé.
I’ve heard rumors, and the rumors in general started back in the ’90s, and they were that certain actresses had slept with Harvey to get a role. It seemed like a way to smear the actresses and demean them by saying that they didn’t get the jobs based on their talent, so I took those rumors with a grain of salt.
[The] part we’re hearing now about eight women being paid off, I didn’t hear anything about that and I don’t know anyone that did. That’s a whole other level and there’s no way you can reconcile that. There’s nothing to say except that it’s indefensible.
In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence said she was “deeply disturbed” by the “inexcusable and absolutely upsetting” allegations against Weinstein.
I worked with Harvey five years ago and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward.
Elsewhere, more female stars are speaking out, including Meryl Streep and Glenn Close, the latter of whom said in a statement to The New York Times that she had also been aware of the rumors. “Harvey has always been decent to me,” Close said, “but now that the rumors are being substantiated, I feel angry and darkly sad.” Judi Dench called the allegations “horrifying” and said that she gives her “wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.” Since the Times report, Weinstein has been fired by The Weinstein Company.