A former production assistant on a Weinstein Company
television series has come forward with new sexual assault
allegations against Harvey Weinstein .
In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in New York City,
Mimi Haleyi shared her experiences with the Hollywood
producer beginning in 2004.
While in Cannes, Mimi shared a story where she was escorted
up to Harvey's room by an assistant. "After a few minutes of
greetings and normal conversation, Harvey suddenly asked me if
I would give him a massage. I said, 'No sorry I'm not a
masseuse,' and I suggested he contact hotel reception with his
request," she claimed while speaking next to her attorney Gloria
Allred . "He kept asking about massages and so I felt the
meeting was going nowhere and I left. By that time, I was
crying as I felt completely humiliated and stupid for having been
excited about meeting with him."
Mimi went on to allege that Harvey appeared at her apartment
in the East Village twice in one day where he "literally
physically forced himself in through the door, pleading with me
to come with him to Paris. I found him overwhelming to deal
with, and I didn't know how to shut it down."
Finally, Mimi shared an instance when she was invited to his
home in SoHo. What started off as an evening of watching TV
turned into something else, according to the production
assistant.
"He wouldn't take no for an answer and backed me into a room
which was not lit, but looked like a kids' bedroom, with kids
drawings on the walls. He held me down on the bed, I tried to
get away, or I tried to get him off of me, and kept asking him
to stop, but it was impossible," she alleged in her press
conference. "He was extremely persistent and physically
overpowering. He then orally forced himself on me while I was
on my period."
In response to today's press conference, a spokesperson for
Harvey shared, "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are
unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein." Over the weekend, the
spokesperson for the producer also confirmed to EmI's News that
Harvey is receiving both inpatient and outpatient treatment for
the next month.
Harvey himself has apologized in recent weeks for past
treatment of colleagues and previously denied allegations of non-
consensual sex. And while police in Los Angeles, New York and
London are investigating several sexual misconduct allegations,
Harvey has not been charged with any crime.
As for why Mimi chose to come forward today, her attorney
made it clear that sexual harassment needs to end both in and
out of the workplace.
"Sexual predators need to understand that their sexual
harassment and sexual abuse of vulnerable women in the
workplace must end, or they may face significant civil and in
some cases criminal consequences for their misconduct," Gloria
explained. "Although it is painful for Mimi to have to recall
publicly what she alleges was a shocking sexual assault on her
by Mr. Weinstein, she is willing to speak what she says is her
truth in order to help other women."
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