Ashley Judd has been one of the most high-profile women associated with the allegations surrounding Harvey Weinstein.
While Weinstein has yet to be formally charged with any of the allegations against him so far, there are numerous investigations open against him and the prevailing sentiment is that it's only a matter of time before he's charged. Between now and then, Weinstein has to contend with numerous legal actions - and a fresh one levelled against him is from Judd herself, who contends that Weinstein smeared her reputation in Hollywood which caused her to lose out on work.
Peter Jackson, who directed Lord of the Rings, admitted in an interview last year that Weinstein specifically warned him against casting Judd, who was in contention for the role of Arwen - which eventually went to Liv Tyler. In a statement, Judd said that "even a few false statements from Mr. Weinstein could destroy potentially career-changing professional opportunities. It’s time that Mr. Weinstein be held accountable for that conduct and for the ways in which he’s damaged careers."
Weinstein's legal team have denied the claims, and responded with a statement of their own. As they tell it, "(the) most basic investigation of the facts will reveal that Mr. Weinstein neither defamed Ms. Judd nor ever interfered with Ms. Judd’s career, and instead not only championed her work but also repeatedly approved her casting for two of his movies over the next decade."
You can read the full lawsuit filing here.
Via Variety
