Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is currently serving a collective sentence of 39 years after a conviction of rape and sexual assault against over 100 women in the entertainment industry. Actress Julia Ormond (“First Knight,” “Witches of East End“) has filled yet another lawsuit against the disgraced producer for sexual assault. But Ormond isn’t just going after Weinstein. She’s also alleging CAA (Creative Artists Agency), Miramax, and Disney enabled his deplorable behavior.
The lawsuit claims “the men at CAA who represented Ormond knew about Weinstein. So too did Weinstein’s employers at Miramax and Disney. Brazenly, none of these prominent companies warned Ormond that Weinstein had a history of assaulting women because he was too important, too powerful, and made them too much money.” Ormond’s allegations stem from “the need to fix systemic issues by going for root problems.” Such as holding accountable people in high positions that are aware of these issues. But often look the other way and placate their lack of action by deeming it “not their problem.”
Turning A Blind Eye Doesn’t Absolve Responsibility
“I am coming forward with my story now publicly because I feel as if we still need systemic change, and I feel that we need accountability from enablers, in order to get there. I feel that this is what happened with me.” Ormond said. Weinstein and the accused parties have denied Ormond’s allegations. The CAA says Ormond’s claims are unfounded, while Weinstein denies having ever assaulted Ormond in the first place.
But Ormond alleges she was too frightened and ashamed to come forward, until the #MeToo movement gave her the courage to do so. In 1995, at the height of her career, Ormond alleges that Weinstein assaulted her. (We will not go into details, you can easily look those up yourself.)
According to Ormond’s lawsuit, the alleged assault would not have happened had Weinstein been “prevented from further sexual misconduct,” if CAA and heads of Disney had fired him. Ormond also claims when she came to the CAA about the alleged assault, she was told “to keep quiet.” Which is pretty damning in the face of Weinstein’s multiple charges and convictions. This is more than likely a lawsuit that will take a number of years to work through.
