The Harvey Weinstein Prison Interview From Rikers: Exclusive

The day earlier than I used to be to satisfy Harvey Weinstein, a blizzard dumped a foot of snow on New York, grinding the town to a halt. It appeared like an omen. Waking in my resort the subsequent morning, I half hoped that Rikers could be closed as nicely. Then my telephone buzzed with a terse electronic mail from a jail administrator: “We’re on!” it mentioned.

So, I referred to as an Uber and nervously set off with a cameraman and a trunk stuffed with recording tools for the quick voyage to Rikers, the infamous island facility in Queens the place Weinstein has been incarcerated for a lot of the previous six years.

Getting into Rikers is barely barely simpler than breaking out of it. The Uber dropped us off at a car parking zone outdoors the ability, the place we waited within the frigid chilly for a jail official to choose us up. Then, after an impediment course of barbed-wire gates and steel detectors, we arrived on the crumbling cinder-block construction that Weinstein has referred to as dwelling for the higher a part of two years.

Over the previous few years, the 73-year-old has been hospitalized for a laundry record of maladies: diabetes, a coronary heart operation, most cancers. Spinal stenosis retains him in a wheelchair more often than not. Because of his infirmities, he’s housed in a medical unit of the jail, away from the overall inhabitants. Safety issues maintain him confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.

For me, this go to additionally was one thing of a reunion. I first encountered him in 1999, once I labored as editorial director of Talk journal, the ill-fated month-to-month that Weinstein launched with the legendary editor Tina Brown. Our first assembly was not auspicious. I arrived at work to search out an ashen-faced Tina slumped on a chaise in her workplace as Harvey, phoning in from a yacht journey to Capri, screamed profanities at her from a speakerphone.

That was the Harvey that many individuals bear in mind — crude, profane and vindictive. But there was a special facet to Harvey as nicely. He could possibly be charming, humorous and beneficiant, an odd duality that a few of his victims testified to in court docket. He was a eager choose of expertise and tales, and fiercely loyal to his favorites. Our largest struggle, satirically, was over Gwyneth Paltrow, who went on to be certainly one of his most outstanding critics. Once, after she appeared on Talk‘s cover, Harvey fumed that the story was too hard on her. “Don’t fuck with my fucking buddies,” he bellowed, and angrily hurled the journal at me.

But my most indelible reminiscence of him got here just a few years later, throughout a visit we took to floor zero simply days after 9/11, accompanied by Tina and Harvey’s then-PR chief, Matt Hiltzik. It was each a mission to ship meals to first responders and, for Harvey, a morbid flex. Downtown was shut off to everybody however emergency personnel. But Harvey had one way or the other secured a placard to get our automotive by the police roadblocks and checkpoints to the still-smoldering web site. Balancing a large soup tureen and a sack of sandwiches, we made our method by the rubble in surprised silence, punctured immediately by Harvey’s baritone growl.

“Matt! Get me a bagel,” he yelled.

We all checked out him with amazement. “Harvey, the bagels are for the firemen,” Hiltzik lastly replied.

“Don’t forget the cream cheese,” Harvey snapped.

Back then, on the apex of his profession, Harvey largely received a move for appalling habits. He was an A-list Hollywood producer along with his mitts on magazines, theater, publishing and politics. He palled round with prime ministers and presidents. Then, in 2017, a set of blockbuster tales — in The New York Times and The New Yorker — revealed his historical past of sexual harassment and abuse, precipitating his dizzying fall from grace. Over the years, as his case dominated the information and set off a motion that took down scores of different outstanding males accused of abuse, I couldn’t assist however marvel what had turn out to be of that outdated Harvey. Had all these court docket instances and public disgraces dampened his hubris? What classes had he gleaned from his reversal of fortune? How did he assess the tarnished legacy he had struggled so mightily to construct? And what did he do all day?

The Harvey I remembered was keen on grand entrances, normally trailed by a pack of attentive aides. This Harvey simply silently materialized — slumped in a wheelchair steered by a bored-looking corrections officer. He was a lot thinner and grayer and paler than I remembered him. His yellow jail jumpsuit blended with the yellow-painted room to offer him a greenish tinge.

“And so,” he mentioned theatrically, “we meet again.”

For the subsequent hour — Rikers had restricted the interview to 60 minutes — Harvey sat in a drafty convention room, his publicist, Juda Engelmayer, and a cluster of jail officers watching from the nook, and fielded questions on his each day life behind bars and the historical past of intercourse crimes that had landed him there. He cycled by a collection of operatic feelings–delight, fury, self-pity, disgrace. But his eight years of incarceration had didn’t encourage any real contrition. The world might have branded him a monster, however Harvey nonetheless considers himself a sufferer — crucified for a bygone period of Hollywood sins. When pressed, he concedes that his habits might have been loutish, pathetic and even abusive. But he insists he’s no rapist — simply an oversexed schmuck who made some silly strikes and by accident launched a world social motion.

Unfortunately for him, three successive juries have disagreed. Since the primary information tales appeared, near 100 ladies have come ahead to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, setting off an avalanche of civil and prison authorized proceedings which are nonetheless wending their method by the justice system in New York and California. His first New York trial, in 2020, led to conviction on prices of rape within the third diploma, with a sentence of 23 years in jail. But that conviction was overturned in 2024 — not on grounds of innocence however on a procedural ruling — with a 2025 retrial ending in a blended verdict: a conviction on one depend, an acquittal on a second cost and a mistrial on the third. In 2023 he obtained a 16 12 months sentence for rape and different crimes after an extended jury trial in Los Angeles. The choose dominated that his time period would run consecutively—not concurrently–along with his New York sentence.

Our dialog was carried out in late January, per week earlier than one more verdict was anticipated in one more New York retrial. Harvey made it clear that he hoped this interview — his first main sit-down since his arrest — could be revealed earlier than then. (The trial has been rescheduled to start April 14.) When our hour was practically over, a Rikers consultant ordered us to wind issues down. Harvey slumped exhaustedly in his chair. But because the guard began to wheel him out of the room, the previous mogul roused himself for one ultimate pitch.

“You gotta get this out soon, Maer. I’ve given you a fucking world exclusive! Oprah begged me to talk to her. So did Tina Brown. NBC said …”

His voice trailed off as he was pushed down the corridor again to his cell — however it could not be the final time I’d hear from him. For weeks afterward, he’d name me from Rikers dozens of occasions at every kind of wierd hours to make further factors. “I got Harvey on the line,” Engelmayer would announce, very Hollywood-like, then patch Weinstein in. (His feedback have been integrated into this transcript, which has been edited for size and readability.)

After the interview, one other guard arrived to paved the way again off to the barren, freezing car parking zone in Queens. On the way in which out, I requested the officer what he knew about Weinstein’s life earlier than jail. He shrugged. “He used to be somebody in Hollywood, right?”

I feel we final noticed one another at some premiere on the Four Seasons — like 25 years in the past. That looks as if a universe away. What’s a typical day like for you right here?

I spend nearly all of it in my cell. Sometimes I’ll exit within the wheelchair simply to get some air, however that’s solely half an hour. Mostly I’m in my cell 23 hours a day. I don’t have any human contact aside from with the guards.

You don’t converse to different inmates?

I simply converse to the guards. And the nurses. That’s the extent of my socializing right here. There’s no socializing in my wing.

Why is that?

Because it’s Rikers Island and it’s hell. It was totally different once I was in state jail. I received up within the morning, I had breakfast, I noticed buddies, I spoke to individuals. We all watched TV collectively. I’ve been begging to go to state, however the DA’s workplace says, “Because you have a trial upcoming, you stay at Rikers. We want to keep an eye on you.” They saved a watch on me for 19 months now. I don’t know the place they suppose I’m going.

Has your superstar been a assist or a hindrance?

Here at Rikers, it hurts me as a result of it forces me into isolation. It’s too harmful for me to be round anybody else. Other inmates get to go to the yard. But each time I’m on the market, I really feel like I’m below siege. They come up and say, “Weinstein, give me some money.” “Weinstein, give me your lawyer.” “Weinstein, do this.” “Weinstein, do that.” I’m always threatened and derided. I wouldn’t final lengthy on the market.

That didn’t occur to you upstate?

No. Because I used to be simply one of many prisoners in a small group, and also you get to know people who method. It’s lonely in jail. You simply attempt to join with individuals and never suppose an excessive amount of about what received them there. I used to be pleasant with one man who learn on a regular basis — not just like the Great Books, however writers David Baldacci or Harlan Coben. I turned him on to Daniel Silva, and he was very appreciative. When I used to be there, I volunteered to show a course on how books turn out to be motion pictures — like James Patterson and J.Ok. Rowling, like that. But they weren’t . I’ll attempt once more if I ever make it again.

Has anybody harm you bodily?

One time whereas I used to be ready to make use of the telephone, I requested the man in entrance of me if he was completed. He received off and punched me onerous within the face. I fell on the ground, bleeding all over the place. I used to be harm actually badly. The cops requested me who had completed it, however I couldn’t say. You can’t be a rat. That’s the legislation of the jungle.

Do you make many telephone calls?

Once each three hours I get about 16 to 18 minutes on the telephone. That’s my lifeline. I converse to a few of my youngsters each single day: my oldest daughter, who’s 30 now, and my 12-year-old and my 15-year-old. My different two youngsters haven’t talked to me for six years. I additionally converse to my legal professionals and to some buddies. It’s the one factor that retains me sane.

What do your youthful children learn about your state of affairs? What do you inform them about how you bought right here?

They know the whole lot. They are sufficiently old to google. But I advised them I by no means sexually assaulted anybody, they usually consider me. Back once I was in Bellevue, it was simpler to see them. I gained’t enable my daughter to come back and see me right here. My son-in-law takes my 12-year-old to go to typically. But it’s onerous for him too. It’s emotionally crippling for him.

At your trial, you had been always photographed with books below your arm. How do you get them?

I get them organized on Amazon, they usually FedEx them to me. Sometimes just a few a day. I’ve at all times preferred to learn, however there’s not a lot else to do right here. You don’t get the Times at Rikers — the one paper right here is the Daily News. But a good friend sends me the Sunday Book Review each week.

Is there a specific type of e book you’re drawn to?

When I used to be on trial in L.A., I went by my entire highschool curriculum. A Farewell to Arms. For Whom the Bell Tolls. Gatsby. I hadn’t learn these books since I used to be 17. Reading them at 73 years outdated, trapped in a cell — it simply hits in another way. At Rikers I’m studying memoir after memoir. Graydon’s memoir. Barry Diller’s. Keith McNally’s, which was unimaginable. I simply completed Tom Freston’s e book, which was fairly good, truly. But then there’s a line in it that claims, “I know Harvey Weinstein. He was a predator.” It’s only one line. But it broke my coronary heart.

It’s fascinating {that a} single line in a e book nonetheless has that type of impression on you. Aren’t you used to that by now?

Freston is somebody I knew for a few years. That he now thinks of me that method — it simply hurts when individuals who had been buddies purchase into it. It nonetheless bothers me.

Are you allowed to look at motion pictures?

We all have a pill that performs motion pictures. Each one prices $4.95 to look at. Mostly it’s all massive, mainstream hits — not artwork home stuff. But often some little film will sneak out of nowhere and be superb. I simply noticed The Ballad of Wallis Island — Carey Mulligan govt produced it — and it’s essentially the most great film. I want I used to be round so I might have distributed that. They play my motion pictures infrequently. The different day Good Will Hunting got here up. I hadn’t seen it in 25 years. I watched it in my cell, and I assumed, “Now that was pretty damn great.”

Do individuals in right here speak to you about your motion pictures? Do they pitch you scripts?

Not actually. They solely wish to discuss Quentin Tarantino. It’s probably not a Shakespeare in Love crowd. I do get scripts, but it surely’s largely from school children within the mail. They wish to know what I consider their motion pictures.

What do you inform them? Do you ship them notes?

Not actually. No. They’re normally not excellent, however I attempt to be encouraging. I inform them to work a bit more durable.

Are you continue to following the business? Do you learn the trades?

Oh yeah. I can’t assist myself. I learn them religiously. I nonetheless speak to Hollywood individuals on the surface. I’m a fanatical THR reader, you’ll be completely happy to know. But it at all times comes two weeks late.

I do know you employed a jail advisor earlier than you went to jail. What’s the most effective piece of recommendation he gave you?

It wasn’t one factor. He simply helped me navigate this method. All the unstated little guidelines and do’s and don’ts to be careful for. But he saved my life. When I received sick final 12 months, I used to be freezing to dying in my cell. For days, I couldn’t transfer. There’s no physician right here. We’re on Rikers Island — all these prisoners and no physician. Finally, I referred to as Craig Rothfeld and begged him, “Please help me. I’m sick. I don’t know what to do.” He received on the telephone they usually shipped me to Bellevue. I had a coronary heart operation the subsequent day. A day later and I might have been gone. I’ve bone marrow most cancers. I’m dying right here. And the DA’s thought might be to have me dying in jail. But I’m dying.

Do you are worried in regards to the chance that you could be die right here?

It’s scares the shit out of me. Cold and heartless. It’s unimaginable to have the life that I had and the issues that I did for society and never have the leniency to cope with me in a kinder method. Whatever they suppose I did dangerous in my life, I didn’t get the dying penalty. I’m going to be 74 in March. I don’t wish to die in right here.

As we’re recording, the world has been fixated on the Jeffrey Epstein story. Did you understand him?

No. I perhaps bumped into him a few times. He didn’t journey in my circles. We definitely weren’t buddies.

The final time a narrative like Epstein’s generated a lot international consideration was whenever you had been arrested. Does it play in another way out of your perspective? I do know you are feeling that you simply’ve been unfairly accused, and also you’ve complained a few media witch hunt. Do you are feeling that he too could possibly be harmless?

No. I simply know what I learn within the papers — I can’t say a method or one other. I don’t have numerous religion within the media. Or prosecutors, both. But the crimes he’s charged with are actually terrible. They’re nothing in any respect like mine.

Let’s discuss your crimes. There are dozens and dozens of girls who inform a variation of the identical fundamental story. You adopted them to their resort rooms or trapped them in yours. You compelled them to have intercourse with you. You received livid or retaliated once they turned you down. You declare that none of that is true. But what accounts for the uniformity of all these studies? Why do you suppose all these persons are so keen to lie about you?

For numerous causes. But primarily as a result of there’s cash concerned. You know, one girl received half one million {dollars}. Another received paid $500,000. A 3rd received $3 million. All anybody needed to do to stroll off with a examine was fill out a kind that mentioned I sexually assaulted them. So they stuffed it out, and the insurance coverage firm ultimately paid out tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars}. And Disney, too — Disney didn’t need a public struggle, so they only paid individuals to go away. It turns into a bandwagon impact. People can say something they need about me, and it’s within the public document. But only a few of those tales have been litigated in court docket.

Some of your accusers — like Gwyneth Paltrow — had been shut buddies. Others had labored with you for years. None of them took a cent. Are you actually claiming that they’re all in it for cash? Is there any a part of you that acknowledges that you simply wronged them?

Did I make a move at a few of these ladies unsuccessfully? Did I overplay my hand? Yes. Was I pushy or overly seductive? Yes to all of that. Look, I ought to by no means have gone out with the individuals I went out with. I used to be married to a implausible girl who had no thought what I used to be doing. I lied on a regular basis. I improperly used my employees to cover this stuff. But did I ever sexually assault a girl? No. I by no means did that.

How a lot have you ever paid out in settlements since this started?

I haven’t paid for many of those settlements. Disney paid them. The insurance coverage firm paid them. But earlier than all this, I personally spent just a few hundred thousand {dollars} in settlements.

You made individuals signal every kind of stringent NDAs and spent a lot of cash to maintain them quiet. You employed PIs to observe your accusers and the press. Isn’t that a sign of wrongdoing?

Yes, however the factor I used to be doing improper was not sexual assault. It was dishonest on my spouse. I used to be determined to maintain that secret from her. I didn’t need Disney to search out out. I did the whole lot to guard myself from that type of scandal.

You talked about that your employees helped cowl for you. Some of them walked younger ladies to your room, absolutely understanding what was awaiting them there. Don’t they deserve some accountability for that?

No. There’s just one one that’s responsible. That’s me. These individuals had been so completely happy to be at The Weinstein Co. or Miramax — to be on the heart and apex of the business — that they had been keen to lie for me. And I pushed them to lie. My employees was nice. They lied like champs. But I did it. It’s all on me. I’ll say, although, when a man invitations you to his resort room in the midst of the evening, you understand what’s on the agenda.

Are you saying that everybody who went to satisfy with you knew they’d find yourself being groped and chased across the room?

Not in any respect. I had a lot of individuals come see me. But there have been some ladies who knew precisely what was anticipated. Maybe they felt dangerous later or they regretted it. Maybe they noticed a possibility for a payout. But not all of them had been as naive as they preferred to faux.

Look on the final case. I misplaced Miriam Haley. But I used to be not responsible on Kaja Sokola, who mentioned I raped her. We gained as a result of in her diary she wrote about 4 males who assaulted her. But the one line she wrote about me in her diary was that Harvey disillusioned me. Harvey disillusioned her as a result of I didn’t make her a star. And numerous these ladies had been actresses they usually didn’t get what they needed.

She was a 20-something mannequin. You had been a world well-known mogul. Do you acknowledge the facility imbalance there? You had been a robust man who hated to be advised no. I noticed how scary that could possibly be.

Yes, there was an influence imbalance. I do know I may be scary and tough. But that’s nonetheless a great distance from sexual assault. Over-flirtation, ridiculous conditions. Bad and silly habits. Yes. But I didn’t push anyone. I didn’t bodily transfer anyone. I didn’t do this, Maer. And I’ve taken lie detectors to show it.

Listening to you, I can’t assist however consider the Italian mannequin in New York — Ambra Gutierrez — and the NYPD sting recording of you outdoors her resort room. There was one thing about your habits — the relentlessness, the aggression — that’s not possible to neglect. If that wasn’t assault, what was it?

I feel it was attempting to be seductive, and I went too far. It was embarrassing and pathetic. But I by no means touched her. You by no means noticed me put palms on her. They by no means even took her case to court docket.

You at all times fancied your self such a troublesome man. If any of those ladies had refused you, wouldn’t you’ve got sought to punish them?

Absolutely not. I could also be a troublesome man, however I’m not deranged. Just the specter of Harvey was sufficient — perhaps greater than sufficient. But it didn’t go to the purpose of blackballing anyone. If the digital camera’s on, I’m simply going to say Rosanna Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie — they only exaggerated. They needed to be a part of the membership. And they destroyed me.

That’s a exceptional declare to make about ladies with nothing to achieve. But they’re not the one ones. Peter Jackson says you advised him to not work with Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino.

Peter Jackson is the worst. For him it’s private. He nonetheless resented me over what occurred with [Miramax and] Lord of the Rings. So as quickly as he sees I’m down, he says that I ordered him to not work with Ashley Judd or Mira Sorvino. It’s a whole fucking lie. If he says it once more, I’ll sue him too. [Jackson did not return a request for comment.]

The reality is, I fought on my final breath to forged Ashley Judd in Good Will Hunting. I fought like a bastard to get her forged. But Gus and Matt insisted on Minnie Driver, and that was the tip of that. And when Mira Sorvino’s husband wanted a component in a TV present, I received one other actor eliminated and put him in. The reality is, to retaliate towards these ladies I might have wanted the cooperation of the businesses. Call Ari Emanuel! Call Bryan Lourd! It by no means, ever, ever occurred.

You’ve mentioned you needed to testify at your trial however had been talked out of it. Do you remorse that?

Yes. Because I might have defined it to a jury. These individuals had been my buddies. You don’t ship somebody emails saying “I love you” and “I miss you” and “come see me” after you’ve been sexually assaulted.

All these factors had been made at trial and didn’t transfer the jury.

Because the DA introduced in a psychologist — paid $750 an hour — who testified that victims typically stay hooked up to their abusers. We didn’t refute that. We wanted to refute it. And I used to be the one who ought to have completed it, as a result of nobody knew the reality of those relationships higher than me. My testimony would have made the distinction.

How a lot cash have you ever spent in your protection?

Millions and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands.

Do you are worried about working out?

Keeps me up at evening. I had property and different revenue, but it surely’s not limitless. Disney minimize off my insurance coverage. You understand how a lot I made for that firm? Back at Talk Books, the editor, Jonathan Burnham, discovered Artemis Fowl, which bought 21 million copies. We purchased Percy Jackson, which bought 200 million copies. I earned $1 billion in publishing off that one e book. You know what my pension is from Disney? $60,000 a 12 months. I earned billions and billions for Disney they usually give me $60,000 a 12 months. And my ex-wife Eve takes half of it.

Of the various ladies who’ve spoken out towards you, Gwyneth Paltrow has been notably upsetting to you. Why is that?

Because she was a great good friend of mine. I don’t know what drove her to do what she did. To make such an enormous deal over nothing. I walked out of a pleasant assembly along with her and mentioned, “How about a massage?” And she simply went, “No, I don’t think so.” I received the message. I by no means put my palms on her. She advised Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt got here to me and mentioned, “Don’t do anything like that with my girl.” I mentioned, “Don’t worry, Brad. I got it.” But then Gwyneth goes on Howard Stern and The New York Times and makes an enormous deal about all of it. She is aware of that nothing occurred. But this one that was a good friend, who owes her profession to me, simply stabs me within the again. She needed to be a part of the group. I gained’t forgive her for that.

Long earlier than the Times and the New Yorker exposés, reporters had spent years digging into your habits with ladies. David Carr spent six months at New York on a canopy story that by no means ran. Other individuals might need stopped amid that kind of scrutiny. But you simply endured. Was that hubris? Self-destructiveness? Did you simply suppose you’d by no means get caught?

Hubris is an efficient phrase. And it was clearly self-destructive. But these affairs took off a few of the stress of the life I used to be residing. It was a temptation that was at all times there, and I at all times gave in. It was silly and improper.

In Greek tragedies, the hero is felled by a deadly flaw. What do you suppose yours was?

I overstepped my boundaries. That’s for certain. I could possibly be a horrible bully. I used energy in an smug method. I used to be pushy and insistent, and I really feel horrible. I’m ashamed of that habits, and I see it now in ways in which I couldn’t earlier than. Ironically, I distributed a film referred to as Bully, and GLAAD gave me an award for it. In my acceptance speech, I mentioned, “The irony of me distributing Bully is not lost on anyone.”

Has this expertise made you extra introspective in any respect?

There’s no method you possibly can keep away from introspection as a result of all it’s important to do in jail is cope with your self. I feel endlessly about what I might do in another way if I had one other probability.

And what would that be?

I might have revered these ladies extra. I might by no means have been with them within the first place. I might’ve saved devoted in my marriage. I might’ve mentioned, “I have a family. I will protect it.” I used to be a idiot. I admit that.

Have you ever apologized to any of the ladies who introduced prices towards you?

I apologized to them usually. You can’t name them whenever you’re in a trial with them. But I’ll say it right here immediately: I apologize to these ladies. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been with them within the first place. I misled them.

I’m undecided that’s a lot of an apology, truthfully. It appears like what you’re most regretful for is dishonest in your spouse. Are you sorry on your transgressions past that?

I misled them. I cheated on each my wives. That’s immoral. But I didn’t assault them. That is the massive lie of all of this. I gained’t apologize for one thing I didn’t do. I might be confirmed harmless. That I promise you.

From the surface, it appears your life has been dominated by your insatiable appetites — for energy, for cash, for meals, for intercourse. Where do you suppose that comes from?

Some of it goes again to my childhood. Growing up, I bear in mind my uncle being very rich and my father serving to him get there after which my uncle not reciprocating. And I bear in mind how a lot that harm my dad, who was a great, trustworthy man. But my uncle was highly effective and rich, and I aspired to be like him relatively than my beaten-up father. That’s the place I misplaced my method. That’s what formed my values a bit. I didn’t wish to be the sucker in life.

What do you suppose fuels your habits towards ladies?

I used to be married to Eve for a really very long time — 17 years. I met Georgina [Chapman] a 12 months and a half later, and we had been married for one more 12. I simply by no means … I don’t know. I wasn’t precisely a women’ man once I was youthful, after which, at a sure level, it was too simple. Numerous these ladies got here to me.

They got here to you since you might make or break their future.

Sometimes, sure. And typically simply because. Maer, consider it or not, I had an iota of allure.

I do know two of your daughters modified their names and gained’t converse to you. Have you tried to achieve them?

Lots of occasions. They by no means reply. Their mom minimize me off, too. It’s been radio silence from them ever for the reason that allegations began.

Do you suppose you’ll ever have the ability to restore these relationships?

Yes, I do. I’m assured that I’ll — once I get out of right here and I show my innocence. I gained the final enchantment. I’ll win this one, too. When I lay in that cell and take into consideration them, I simply need them to know that I really like them. I didn’t do the issues they suppose I did.

Your brother, Bob, was intimately concerned in constructing your organization. But after the scandal, he minimize you off, too. Was {that a} shock to you?

No. Not in any respect. He’s determined to work, and this killed his profession, too. He simply hopes that by shitting on me he can return to work. But sadly for him, they may by no means let him return to work. He’s caught there with me. But it wasn’t a shock. The final years of The Weinstein Co., there was a lot of dangerous blood between us.

He’s mentioned that your recklessness destroyed the corporate.

I destroyed the corporate? He destroyed the corporate. Look at his motion pictures — one catastrophe after one other. I saved the corporate! The King’s Speech, The Artist, Silver Linings Playbook. Hit after hit after hit. And it wasn’t simply the movies. I constructed our tv firm. People don’t know this, however one of many final issues I did was carry Taylor Sheridan to Yellowstone. Sheridan needed to forged Robert Redford, however I mentioned, “You need to get Kevin Costner.” And it grew to become a large hit. But then this occurred, and folks neglect.

Do you continue to converse to your ex-wife Georgina?

No, we don’t speak in any respect. She lets me see our kids, which I’m grateful for. I’m sorry she received such a nasty rap. She knew nothing about what I used to be doing. I used to be a grasp of deception. To punish her firm is an act of madness. All these ladies she dressed so fantastically deserted her in a single day. Have some braveness, for God’s sake!

At the Oscars final 12 months, Adrien Brody spoke movingly of his love for Georgina and your children. Did that sting a bit?

No! I used to be completely happy. It’s good that my children have somebody of their lives. And Georgina suffered terribly due to me. I’m glad she’s lastly discovered some happiness.

Are there different individuals who now not converse to you whose silence is especially painful?

Most of the individuals I knew have shut me out. Close buddies. Family members. People who owe their total careers to me. They all simply disappeared in a single day. I’m scared to name individuals as a result of I don’t need them canceled for speaking to me. This is a loopy tradition. This is McCarthyism. I want Jeffrey Katzenberg would take my name. I want Ted Sarandos would. Bradley Cooper. I miss these individuals not simply as enterprise — there was extra to it than that. But I’m cancel-itis. Toxic. You take my telephone name and also you get canceled. I get it. I don’t count on anybody to destroy their careers for me. But just a few individuals threat it anyway. I gained’t let you know who they’re, clearly.

We’re in the midst of Oscar season, which was as soon as your favourite time of 12 months. You handled the Academy Awards like a blood sport — turned them from a staid affair right into a brutal, costly competitors. Was {that a} good factor?

Before I received there, a bunch of huge studios ran the Oscars. They simply handed the awards amongst them. I made it attainable for smaller indie motion pictures to lastly get consideration. They complained that I fought soiled or made them too costly. Fuck them. I fought onerous for excellent motion pictures as a result of I beloved them. Is {that a} dangerous factor?

Do you continue to get to look at them?

They knew I preferred to look at, so once I was upstate, they introduced a bit TV so I might watch them with just a few of my buddies.

People used to joke that the one one thanked greater than you was God. How does it really feel to look at them from jail?

I attempt not to consider it an excessive amount of. I simply attempt to root for the films I like. Though I haven’t actually seen any of the films this 12 months. We solely get second-run ones on the pill.

Who are you rooting for this 12 months?

It’s a two-man race — Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler. I had the pleasure of working with each of them. I labored with Paul on The Master. I labored with Ryan on Fruitvale Station. These are two of the greats. I really like Ryan — he’s the category of the sphere. When Paul Thomas Anderson and I made The Master, he got here to me and mentioned, “Is there somewhere we can cut? It’s long.” I watched it and mentioned, “It’s a fucking masterpiece. I’m not cutting a frame.” He was essentially the most gentlemanly of gents. The Academy ought to declare a tie.

You as soon as famously declared your self “the sheriff of this fucking town.” Who’s the brand new sheriff?

First of all, I didn’t imply that. It was an ironic assertion. Marty Scorsese referred to as me proper after and mentioned, “Remember one thing — irony does not read well in print.”

Are there executives you actually admire?

Ted Sarandos. He loves motion pictures, he loves documentaries, he has unimaginable style, and he constructed an organization from nothing. The A24 guys are nice, too. And Tom Quinn at Neon — have a look at him, fielding foreign-language motion pictures, two of them nominated for greatest image. People checked out Neon and mentioned, “This is what you went with?” And he gained as a result of he’s nice at what he does.

Hollywood has modified significantly because you had been there — a lot of layoffs and consolidation. What do you concentrate on the business?

I’m unhappy to see it. I’m unhappy that individuals don’t love motion pictures sufficient to struggle for them. I see Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino on these lonely crusades and I want I used to be out so I’d be a part of them. These mergers are actually dangerous. We want extra motion pictures, not much less. And these quick theatrical home windows are killing the enterprise! Movies want time to take off. People complain that I used to be a bully — that I used to be too robust on administrators. But they’ll’t say I didn’t love motion pictures. I really like motion pictures and I backed them up with the facility and the bravado to do the proper factor for cinema.

Your case touched off a world motion. Putting apart your individual story, do you suppose the business was due for a reckoning? Do you suppose #MeToo has been good for society?

I feel so. If ladies had been getting harm or exploited, I feel that was good.

And how do you are feeling about being the linchpin of that?

I don’t be ok with that in any respect. When Alyssa Milano mentioned “Me too,” she didn’t imply #MeToo about Harvey. She mentioned “Me too,” after which all people mentioned #MeToo about me. Every girl I used to be with, each good friend that I had. It was a march to the cash pile.

I do know you spend numerous time occupied with your legacy. When you’re gone, do you suppose you’ll be extra recognized on your movies or the scandal?

I don’t know. I hope for my motion pictures. But I don’t know. Probably not.

Was there ever some extent the place you considered taking your life?

No! Never! It received actually darkish for me, however I’d by no means do this to my children.

What motion pictures do you suppose you’ll be most remembered for?

Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love — these had been essentially the most iconic motion pictures I made. They symbolize the 2 sides of me. Shakespeare in Love is all of the interval movies; Pulp Fiction is all of the cool motion pictures. My largest remorse was Confessions of Dangerous Minds, which George Clooney directed. It’s such a superb movie, however I fucked it up so badly. If I ever get out of right here, I’ll purchase the rights and rerelease it.

If you had been making a film about all this, how would you painting your individual character? Villain? Victim? Tragic hero?

All three. I did flawed and ugly issues. But I additionally did numerous nice issues — I helped change the tradition. I constructed numerous careers. I used to be variety to lots of people. I’m not a sufferer. I’m a survivor. A survivor of my very own flaws. But I’m in a troublesome state of affairs, and I do know it. I’ve to offer myself pep talks as a result of no one else will.

You have lived this lifetime of cinematic extremes — outsized energy and wealth and fame, adopted by public humiliation and shame. Sitting right here, I maintain questioning whether or not it’s all been value it for you. Would you surrender the Oscars and the acclaim when you might have prevented this and lived an unusual life?

It’s a really fascinating query, however considering it over — the reply is sure. Prison is an effective way to consider your selections and your priorities. All the Oscars and the massive motion pictures — I’m nonetheless actually pleased with them. But what good are they to me now? If I needed to do it once more, I might gladly make that commerce. A life out of the highlight, elevating my children and being with my household — that may have been a a lot better life.

This story appeared within the March 11 concern of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click here to subscribe.