- In 2017, investigations uncovered numerous allegations of sexual assault against legendary producer Harvey Weinstein.
- Since then, the details of Weinstein's powerful social and legal network have been revealed by the same reporters.
- Some Hollywood heavyweights sounded off on the case, and key figures who were closest to Weinstein in the fallout of the investigations fought hard to push back on the reports.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
In 2017, the New York Times and The New Yorker published investigations into repeated settlements paid out by legendary producer Harvey Weinstein over the course of several years in response to sexual misconduct allegations.
Since then, more of Weinstein's accusers have come forward and reporters have mapped out an extensive network of women who have said they were harassed or assaulted by him.
In the midst of the allegations, some top lawyers and celebrities were vocal about not rushing to judgment in Weinstein's case, with some even coming to his defense.
In the time since, some have walked back and clarified their comments in the wake of the case that shook Hollywood and set off the #MeToo movement as books, "She Said" and "Catch and Kill," by the reporters who broke the Weinstein story, detailed the extensive networks that worked to defend Weinstein and silence his accusers.
These are the people that defended Harvey Weinstein, and what they have to say on the matter now.
Attorney Lisa Bloom
Bloom was arguably the most surprising member of Weinstein's defense, and triggered massive blowback when she joined his team as a legal adviser.
She resigned two days after the Times released its investigation and later said she regrets joining the defense, saying she joined the team to "educate him about sexual harassment laws, about the power imbalance, about what is appropriate and not appropriate in the workplace," but was later "mortified that I was connected with him in any way."
In a November 10, 2017 appearance on The View, Bloom said she was interested in the case because it gave her "the opportunity get on the inside and talk to this guy directly," and she wanted Weinstein "to change the response...apologize for what you did, acknowledge the wrongdoing, don't go after the women... that is what he did. I did accomplish that."
However, Bloom has also claimed sweeping ignorance that doesn't match up with a memo published in "She Said" that shows Bloom was working with Weinstein at a rate of $895 an hour to quash the journalists' investigation and organize a multi-faceted campaign to silence one of his most high-profile accusers, Rose McGowan.
Once the full spectrum of allegations had been surfaced in detail in the Times investigation, Bloom said she was "shocked."
When reached for comment, Bloom referred to a previous statement given to outlets after "She Said" and "Catch and Kill" were released, where reiterated that joining the team was a "colossal mistake."
"I thank Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Ronan Farrow for forcing me to confront the colossal mistake I made in working for Weinstein two years ago," she wrote. "While painful, I learn so much more from my mistakes than my successes.
Attorney David Boies
In addition to being Weinstein's longtime lawyer, Boies took extraordinary measures to undermine the Times' investigation into the allegations against the producer, who has worked with Boies and his family on projects including a book deal and a role for Boies's daughter, an aspiring actress.
Boies personally signed a contract with a private investigation organization, Black Cube, to smear and discredit the investigation into Weinstein and mislead Times reporters in an undercover operation that was eventually unearthed and cost Boies's firm its contract with the Times.
In Ronan Farrow's November 2017 article detailing the extensive network around Weinstein that silenced his accusers and threatened the Times' investigation, Boies said, "I don't believe former lawyers should criticize former clients," but acknowledged his role in suppressing the allegations.
"Although he vigorously denies using physical force, Mr. Weinstein has himself recognized that his contact with women was indefensible and incredibly hurtful,"Boies told Farrow. "In retrospect, I knew enough in 2015 that I believe I should have been on notice of a problem, and done something about it. I don't know what, if anything, happened after 2015, but to the extent it did, I think I have some responsibility. I also think that if people had taken action earlier it would have been better for Mr. Weinstein."
Boies did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment.
Attorney Gloria Allred
Though Allred has a longtime reputation as one of the most vocal crusaders against sexual harassment and assault, "She Said" revealed her key role in the network around the Weinstein case that silenced at least one accuser with overwhelmingly common legal and financial arrangements.
Ashley Matthau is identified in "She Said" as a dancer who said she first met Allred shortly after she was assaulted by Weinstein while filming a movie. Allred's firm went on to help negotiate a confidential settlement in 2004 between Weinstein and Matthau, of which Allred took a 40% cut.
Allred told Ronan Farrow in 2017 that her firm had represented "thousands" of people who have entered into confidential settlements and said, "some people don't want their parents, their friends, members of their community to know."
Allred hasn't aired any regrets since, even defending confidential settlements in an interview included in "She Said" as an option for accusers, adding that clients are not forced to sign them and can be optimal for those looking for closure and privacy.
Allred did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Actress Lindsey Lohan
The actress sparked blowback when she took to her Instagram story to say that in the wake of the allegations, she felt "very bad for Harvey Weinstein right now," and she didn't think "it's right what's going on."
"He's never harmed me or done anything to me,"Lohan said, according to Vanity Fair. "We've done several movies together. And so I think everyone needs to stop. I think it's wrong. So stand up."
Lohan quickly took down the supportive videos she posted to Instagram before saying in a statement to the Daily Mail: "As someone who has lived their life in the public eye, I feel that allegations should always be made to the authorities and not played out in the media."
Representatives for Lohan did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment.
Designer Donna Karan
The DKNY founder told the Daily Mail in October 2017 that she thought "we have to look at ourselves," before pointing to accusers as the potential problem.
"You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do," Karan said. "What are they asking for? Trouble."
She described Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman as "wonderful people."
One day later, Karan released a statement saying that her comments "were taken out of context and do not represent how I feel about the current situation concerning Harvey Weinstein," but did not appear to be edited out of context.
"I believe that sexual harassment is NOT acceptable and this is an issue that MUST be addressed once and for all regardless of the individual," she clarified.
DKNY did not immediately return request for comment.
Director Oliver Stone
Oscar-winning director Stone said shortly after the allegations were reported that he would withhold judgment until the case reached court, and said, "a man shouldn't be condemned by a vigilante system."
"I'm a believer that you wait until this thing gets to trial," Stone said in October 2017, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "It's not easy what he's going through, either. During that period he was a rival. I never did business with him and didn't really know him. I've heard horror stories on everyone in the business, so I'm not going to comment on gossip. I'll wait and see, which is the right thing to do."
After his comments were published, Stone wrote on Facebook that when he initially spoke, he was unaware of the extent of the allegations against Weinstein because he was traveling, and said he was "appalled."
"After looking at what has been reported in many publications over the last couple of days, I'm appalled and commend the courage of the women who've stepped forward to report sexual abuse or rape," Stone wrote on Facebook.
Representatives for Stone did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.
Director Woody Allen
Allen initially said he felt "sad" for Weinstein and that he worried women speaking out would start a "witch hunt," according to The BBC.
"The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved," Allen told The BBC. "Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up."
Despite the nature and volume of the allegations, Allen said that "you also don't want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself."
"That's not right either," Allen said.
Allen's comments raised eyebrows, considering the director had faced years of criticism over his relationship with Mia Farrow's adoptive daughter Soon-Yi Previn.
Allen's other adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, has alleged he sexually assaulted her in 1992, mentioning it in a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair and in an open letter published in The New York Times in 2014, but her first televised interview was granted to CNN in January 2018.
Allen later clarified his comments and further condemned Weinstein, telling Variety that he meant the producer was a "sad, sick man."
"When I said I felt sad for Harvey Weinstein I thought it was clear the meaning was because he is a sad, sick man," Allen told Variety. "I was surprised it was treated differently. Lest there be any ambiguity, this statement clarifies my intention and feelings."
Representatives for Allen did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.