Yahoo News Harvey Weinstein responds to Lupita Nyong'o accusations
Harvey Weinstein has responded to accusations of sexual harassment made by Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o.
The Black Panther star penned an op-ed this week about multiple alleged confrontations with Weinstein earlier in her career, following the producer facing misconduct accusations from Lysette Anthony, Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Rose McGowan, Cara Delevingne, Ashley Judd, Sean Young and other women.
In her New York Times essay, Nyong'o alleged that Weinstein invited her to attend a movie screening at his home and then pressured her to join him in his bedroom to discuss her career.
"Harvey led me into a bedroom – his bedroom – and announced that he wanted to give me a massage," she wrote. "I thought he was joking at first. He was not. For the first time since I met him, I felt unsafe.
"I panicked a little and thought quickly to offer to give him one instead: It would allow me to be in control physically, to know exactly where his hands were at all times.
"He agreed to this and lay on the bed. I began to massage his back to buy myself time to figure out how to extricate myself from this undesirable situation.
"Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants. I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that. 'If we're not going to watch the film, I really should head back to school,' I said.
"I opened the door and stood by the frame. He put his shirt on and again mentioned how stubborn I was. I agreed with an easy laugh, trying to get myself out of the situation safely.
"I was after all on his premises, and the members of his household, the potential witnesses, were all (strategically, it seems to me now) in a soundproof room."
Nyong'o explained that she's come forward with these accusations because she'd been overcome with the memories as well as "a flare of rage" since others began speaking out against Weinstein.
One day after her column was published by the Times, Weinstein has released a response through his spokesperson, in which he takes issue with her version of events.
"Mr. Weinstein has a different recollection of the events, but believes Lupita is a brilliant actress and a major force for the industry," the producer's representative told E! News.
"Last year, she sent a personal invitation to Mr. Weinstein to see her in her Broadway show Eclipsed."
The Hollywood producer is currently being investigated for historic sexual misconduct in London, Los Angeles and New York. Weinstein denies any allegations of non-consensual sex.
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