Weinstein, against whom many women have made allegations of sexual harassment and assault, made a rare public appearance at a New York City actors showcase this week held at the Manhattan Bar, ahead of his rape trial in January 2020.
Weinstein was mocked by both performers on stage and his co-attendees. A comedian referred to him as the ‘elephant in the room’ and said she ‘didn’t know we had to bring our own Mace and rape whistles’.
Weinstein was also questioned by another actor, while an attendee shouted 'monster' at him. Both of these women were told to leave the bar. Moreover, comedian Kelly Bachman was also booed from the audience.
Weinstein’s bodyguards also forced a woman, Zoe Stuckless, out when she confronted him.
The disgraced film producer will face a trial in January on charges that he raped a woman in a hotel room in 2013, and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. Weinstein claims that the sexual activity was consensual.
The producer’s representatives said in a statement that Weinstein went to ‘Actor’s Hour’ with friends in order to find some solace in his life that had been ‘turned upside down’. They added that the outbursts were rude and uncalled for.
Weinstein’s spokesperson Juda Englemayer said in an email that the producer was being treated as if he had been convicted, adding that due process was the foundation of civil rights in the United States.
Meanwhile, the host of Actor’s Hour said that the actor who had confronted Weinstein should have been given the mic instead of being asked to leave.
Weinstein, through his spokesperson, said that he welcomed such dialogue and was happy to address anyone’s questions. “We should all be offered the courtesy to voice opinions and be heard, and to even get answers. Nothing happened other than someone voicing concerns. I am glad we all still have these rights,” the producer said.