Rose McGowan says 'everybody knew' about Harvey Weinstein alleged sexual assault in Hollywood

'I know that. I was there. People kind of think like I don't know these people, that I'm on the outside, like they are, looking in'

Rose McGowan appeared on Good Morning America to speak about the “complicity machine” she believes facilitated Harvey Weinstein‘s alleged sexual assault and harassment.

“Everybody knew. I know that. I was there,” she stated. “People kind of think like I don’t know these people, that I’m on the outside, like they are, looking in. Someone asked me who I would be if I was a character in The Wizard of Oz. I would be the curtain. I would be the one who saw both sides.”

“That nobody noticed. That was pretty and there just to be used and discarded when they were done,” she continued. “I was the curtain, but I absorbed all information from both sides.”

She added that some of her motivations to speak openly about her experiences come from wanting to fight against the “gaslighting” culture that seeks to suppress women’s perspectives and experiences.

That comes partially in the form of a new book, Brave, in which she details in full her allegations against Weinstein, accusing him of raping her at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. McGowan reached a settlement with Weinstein for $100,000, which was printed in The New Yorker, meaning she would not pursue legal action against him.

The actor said that she tried to use the settlement money to purchase a billboard. “It was my only way of saying, ‘I didn’t like this. I didn’t want this.’ It was my only form of voice,” she said.

A statement from Weinstein's attorney, Ben Brafman, states: "Mr. Weinstein denies Rose McGowan’s allegations of non-consensual sexual contact and it is erroneous and irresponsible to conflate claims of inappropriate behavior and consensual sexual contact later regretted, with an untrue claim of rape."

Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than 82 women; other Hollywood stars who have spoken out include Asia Argento, Ashley Judd, and Salma Hayek.

The producer continues to deny any wrongdoing, a spokesperson saying: “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.”

“Mr Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”

McGowan’s interview also saw her reiterate her claims that Ben Affleck knew about the alleged assault, saying he replied: “Goddamnit. I told him to stop doing that.”

Weinstein’s attorney also released a statement claiming Affleck sent an e-mail denying McGowan told him anything. “She never told me nor did I ever infer that she was attacked by anyone,” the alleged statement from Affleck reads. “Any accounts to the contrary are false. I have no knowledge about anything Rose did or claimed to have done.”

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