Seth MacFarlane made joke about Harvey Weinstein and women at 2013 Oscars

'Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein,' says Seth MacFarlane

The list of allegations levied against Harvey Weinstein which span across nearly three decades continues to grow steadily longer.

As mounting numbers of women come forward to accuse the acclaimed producer of sexual assault and misconduct, it has begun to look increasingly like something of an open secret in the hills of Hollywood.

On top of this, an old recording of Seth MacFarlane cracking a joke about Weinstein at the Oscar nominations back in 2013 has resurfaced and is gaining traction.

After reading out the five females who were nominated in the Supporting Actress category, MacFarlane quipped: “Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein”.

While relatively raucous laughter could be heard in response to the Family Guy creator's gag, nothing else was said on the matter.

The nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category were Sally Field (Lincoln), Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables), Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook), Helen Hunt (The Sessions) and Amy Adams (The Master).

Weinstein, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The Artist, and The English Patient, has been fired from the film company he co-founded after the New York Times published an explosive report that detailed acts of alleged harassment towards a number of women, including actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowen.

If things were not bad enough for the disgraced movie mogul, this was superseded by another bombshell story on Tuesday in which Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie accused Weinstein of sexually harassing them earlier in their careers. What’s more, The New Yorker also published a 10-month investigative piece that included three women who accused Weinstein of rape.

Since then, other individuals in Hollywood have come forward to share tales of alleged sexual harassment on social media.

Weinstein’s wife, Georgina Chapman, has announced she is leaving him. The fashion designer described her husband’s actions as “unforgivable” and said she would be focusing on caring for the couple’s young children.

“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions,” she said in a statement.

“I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time."

Weinstein married Chapman in 2007 and the couple have two children together, India Pearl, seven, and Dashiell Max Robert, four.

Weinstein has released a vehement denial over the three allegations of rape which emerged on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Weinstein's spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, told the Times: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. Mr Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. He will not be available for further comments, as he is taking the time to focus on his family, on getting counselling and rebuilding his life.”

Weinstein has separately issued an apology and said he is going to get therapy. In a statement last week he said: “I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it. Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.”

A spokesperson for Weinstein did not immediately respond to The Independent's request for comment.