Controversial Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has once again denied any wrongdoing in a recent interview with journalist Candace Owens. “I did not commit these crimes,” Weinstein declared, swearing before God, the public, and his family that he is wrongfully accused. “Justice must distinguish between what is immoral and what is illegal,” he emphasized.
This rare on-camera interview, Weinstein’s first in eight years, aired Tuesday amid his ongoing retrial in New York City for rape and criminal sexual act charges linked to incidents alleged to have occurred in 2006 and 2013. The broadcast coincided with testimony from Jessica Mann, the third and final accuser to testify at the trial.
Weinstein also faces charges involving Miriam Haley, who claims he forced oral sex on her in 2006 at his Tribeca apartment, and Kaja Sokola, who alleges a similar assault at a Manhattan hotel that same year.
In an unusual move for a defendant mid-trial, Weinstein chose to go public while the court proceedings were still underway. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his legal team was reportedly unaware of the interview until after arrangements were made.
Opening the interview with a prepared statement, Weinstein admitted to personal mistakes but denied any criminal acts. “I made mistakes — no doubt about it. I hurt my family and friends. I cheated on my wife, which was a terrible error. I apologize to those I hurt, especially the Messick family,” he said. “But I did not commit these crimes.”
He added, “I believe women should be heard, but I am wrongfully convicted. Currently, I am not convicted; I’m on retrial after an appeal overturned my conviction. Justice requires a clear and honest examination of each case, and I seek fairness and truth.”
Though limited in what he could discuss due to the trial’s ongoing nature, Weinstein spoke about how former allies have distanced themselves. “They’re terrified of being canceled, worried about losing work. I urged my people to testify on my behalf, but no one did.”
Addressing specific allegations from actress Gwyneth Paltrow — who claimed Weinstein made advances and that Brad Pitt warned him off — Weinstein downplayed the encounter. “At the end of the meeting, we shared a glass of champagne. As I left, I said, ‘I’d love you to give me a massage.’ She said ‘Yeah,’ and that was it. I didn’t touch her. I made a pass, I suppose, but that was the extent of it,” he recounted, adding that Brad Pitt told him not to repeat the behavior.
Weinstein criticized being cast as the emblem of the #MeToo movement, saying, “They wanted me locked up forever.” He also disparaged The New York Times’ reporting on allegations by actresses like Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, and derided the 2022 film She Said — based on the Times’ investigation — calling its box office performance a failure. “It made just $2.5 million opening weekend and maybe $4 to $5 million total. That shows there’s no real interest in me or the case,” he claimed.