Beloved actress and three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep has spoken out against film producer and executive Harvey Weinstein.
Streep has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Hollywood mogul for allegedly sexually harassing multiple women over several decades.
She referred to the behaviour of Weinstein as “disgraceful,” “inexcusable,” and an “abuse of power.”
Streep won an Oscar for The Iron Lady and picked up a nomination for August: Osage County, both of which were distributed by the Weinstein Company.
The actress’s statement comes four days after the report published in the New York Times detailing the allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. Today, it was revealed that Harvey has been fired from the Weinstein Company.
In full, her statement issued to The Huffington Post reads:
“The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes.
“One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally. I didn’t know about these other offenses: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. And If everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it.
“The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
