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Lupita Nyong’o reveals she spoke out about Weinstein allegations so they wouldn't ‘gain power’ over her

‘Better out than in!’

Olivia Petter
Sunday 17 March 2019 14:24 GMT
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Lupita Nyong’o has revealed why she felt compelled to speak out against Harvey Weinstein in 2017, when she accused the Hollywood mogul of propositioning her early on in her career.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, the Black Panther star “politely declined” to expand on what happened, but explained it’s always better to open up about difficult experiences as opposed to keeping them a secret.

“It’s most important to learn lessons,” Nyong’o said, adding “when you don’t speak about things, that’s when they gain power over you.”

The 36-year-old actor continued: “That’s why I’ve spoken out about things I’ve spoken out about, because I recognise that it’s more useful to share it and to participate in change than to let it fester and take hold.

“Yeah. Better out than in!”

Nyong’o made detailed allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct against Weinstein in a New York Times article published in October 2017.

The Oscar-winning actor recalled being invited to the producer’s family home in Connecticut before she was famous on the premise of watching a film.

Shortly after arriving, Nyong’o said Weinstein “insisted” that she follow him and was led into the producer’s bedroom where she claims he asked if he could give her a massage, which she declined.

“Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants,” she added.

“I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that.”

A similar incident occurred at another event, Nyong’o claims, explaining that she felt her career was threatened as a result of rejecting Weinstein’s propositions.

Weinstein’s team responded to the actor’s claims by saying he had a “different recollection of the events”.

The 65-year-old is charged with raping an unidentified female acquaintance in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. His trial is scheduled for 3 June.

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