Disgraced Producer Harvey Weinstein Arrested on Rape Charges

Today, Harvey Weinstein, a once famed Hollywood producer was arrested and charged with first-and third-degree rape charges and committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree. The victims include two Hollywood actresses accusing the producer of rape in separate incidents from 2004 and 2013. One of his alleged victims, Asia Argento stood up to Hollywood’s complicity in the matter at the French film festival, Cannes this year by calling out Weinstein and others. She also called Cannes the “hunting ground” where Weinstein allegedly assaulted his victims.

In her chilling speech alongside director Ava Duvernay, Argento made remarks that other perpetrators were amongst the A-list crowd and that they would be exposed. Since the empowering remarks last week, Hollywood veteran Morgan Freeman came under fire with allegations from eight women claiming that he sexually harassed them.

Weinstein’s arrest and Freeman’s plight come in the wake of fellow actor Bill Cosby being found guilty of three counts of indecent assault back in April, the first celebrity conviction since the #metoo movement came to light last fall. Thirty-five of his accusers were photographed on the cover of New York Magazine in 2015. Celebrities Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson have also made claims of indecent conduct perpetrated by Cosby.

Along with Argento, actress Lucia Evans claims that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. Actress Rose McGowan was one of the first Weinstein accusers. According to CNN, more charges are expected as a grand jury continues to listen to testimonies. Sources claim that at least four more women are prepared to testify.

Dozens of women have come out accusing Weinstein of sexually assaulting them. He’s currently under investigation for sex crimes in the U.S. as well as London.

All three actors Weinstein, Cosby, and Freeman have lost major deals following their accusations. Weinstein was fired from the company he worked for (which was named after him), Cosby, who has numerous honorary degrees and statues in his honor, has lost backing from many major universities including his alma mater, Temple University. Freeman, who recently starred in and has done voice-overs for several commercials, has been dropped from many marketing campaigns.

In light of the arrest, Weinstein posted his $1 million dollar bail and surrendered his passport. He was captured by photographers smiling as he arrived at a Manhattan police precinct.

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