Weinstein strongly denies Salma Hayek's sexual abuse claims

Washington DC [USA], Dec 15 (ANI): In a lengthy statement released by Harvey Weinstein, the movie mogul has finally responded to Hayek's allegations of sexual misconduct.

The movie mogul has spoken out after the 51-year-old actress accused the producer of sexually harassing her a number of times after she struck a deal to work with him on the 2002 movie, 'Frida,' and also claimed that he "demanded" she do a "full-frontal nudity" sex scene for the film.

Weinstein, through a representative, has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex and in this latest statement he also denied Hayek's claims of sexual misconduct and said that he "doesn't recall" forcing her to do the sex scene with 'Frida' co-star Ashley Judd, reports Deadline.

The statement read, "Mr. Weinstein does not recall pressuring Salma to do a gratuitous sex scene with a female co-star and he was not there for the filming. However, that was part of the story, as Frida Kahlo was bisexual and the more significant sex scene in the movie was choreographed by Ms. Hayek with Geoffrey Rush."

"All of the sexual allegations as portrayed by Salma are not accurate and others who have witnessed the event have a different account of what transpired. By Mr. Weinstein's own admission, his boorish behaviour following a screening of "Frida" was prompted by his disappointment in the cut of the movie - and a reason he took a firm hand in the final edit, alongside the very skilled director Julie Taymor," the statement continued.

In an op-ed published by The New York Times, the actress had described Weinstein as a rage-filled "monster" and claimed that he made several inappropriate sexual demands on the set of their 2002 Oscar-winning film Frida. According to Hayek, she repeatedly refused his sexual advances.

Salma has also alleged she was forced to turn down offers for a number of scenarios Harvey allegedly asked her to be involved in, including "letting him give her a massage" and "letting him give her oral sex".

She wrote, "I was so excited to work with him and that company. In my naïvete, I thought my dream had come true. He had validated the last 14 years of my life. He had taken a chance on me - a nobody. He had said yes. Little did I know it would become my turn to say no. No to opening the door to him at all hours of the night, hotel after hotel, location after location, where he would show up unexpectedly, including one location where I was doing a movie he wasn't even involved with. No to me taking a shower with him. No to letting him watch me take a shower. No to letting him give me a massage. No to letting a naked friend of his give me a massage. No to letting him give me oral sex. No to my getting naked with another woman. No, no, no, no, no."

More than 70 women, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan and Angelina Jolie have accused the former studio head of sexual harassment or assault.

In the wake of the allegations, Weinstein was fired from his own company and expelled by the Television Academy, and his wife of 10 years, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him.

Weinstein, who denied all allegations of rape against him, checked into a treatment center, but left after one week. (ANI)