My wife will kick my ass, says movie mogul Harvey Weinstein as he faces series of sex claims

Trouble: Weinstein and Chapman
Dave Benett
Daniel Bates6 October 2017

Harvey Weinstein today claimed his British wife is standing by him as he faced allegations of sexual harassment going back decades.

The Hollywood mogul said that he had to “prove that I’m worthy” to London-born Georgina Chapman - and she will be “kicking my a** to be a better person”.

Weinstein, 65, said that he has had “really tough conversations” with Chapman, 41, a fashion designer and actress, over his behaviour, but added: “My family is standing with me.”

He said that he had to “prove that I’m worthy” to his wife and his five children.

“This is going to be a journey, a lonely journey but a journey where my wife and kids couldn’t be stronger and couldn’t be standing behind me more.”

Weinstein and Chapman, who grew up in Richmond, met in 2004 after he had left his first wife, Eve Chilton, with whom he had three children.

The couple married three years later and have two young children together.

Accusations: Ashley Judd
Getty Images

He added: “Georgina and I have talked about this at length. Georgina will be with others kicking my a** to be a better human being and to apologise to people for my bad behaviour, to say I’m sorry, and to absolutely mean it.”

The co-founder of film company Miramax and The Weinstein Company has produced a number of Oscar-winning blockbusters, including Shakespeare in Love, The King’s Speech and The Artist.

He spoke out after a bombshell New York Times report detailing allegations of misconduct going back 30 years.

The newspaper claimed he had reached at least eight settlements with women including one who said she was coerced into giving him a massage while he was naked.

Lawyers for Weinstein said many of the allegations were false and that they were preparing to sue the New York Times, reportedly for as much $50million.

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Weinstein also said he wanted to “earn the forgiveness” of actress Ashley Judd who accused him of repeatedly making indecent proposals to her 20 years ago.

In the New York Times article Judd reportedly said she was invited up to Weinstein’s room, where he appeared in a bathrobe and asked if he could massage her or watch him shower.

According to the report she remembered thinking to herself: “How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?”

Asked about her claims Weinstein said: “Here’s what I feel about Ashley. She wrote a story in Variety (that did not name Weinstein but described the incident) that was one way, now she’s remembering this way.

“My feeling is I read her book about being abused as a child.

“Whatever Ashley wants to say about me, I’m going to be supportive. I need to earn her forgiveness. I thought we had a relationship at one time, the goal is to get that back. I salute her like everybody else does.”

He was also reported to have paid Rose McGowan US$100,000 under a settlement over an alleged incident shortly before her breakthrough role in Scream.

Asked about that Weinstein said: “I promised to keep the peace and that’s how I feel about it.”

Weinstein also denied the New York Times claim that he had reached eight settlements with women and said their reporting was “not right”.

As Weinstein spent the day responding to the allegations, his wife was showing her new line of wedding gowns in Manhattan.

In the wake of the allegations Weinstein said he was stepping back from running The Weinstein Company.

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