Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Harvey Weinstein tells reporter he’s not afraid of chihuahuas in bizarre exchange outside courtroom

Dog named Peanut came up in court testimony

Clémence Michallon
New York
Tuesday 28 January 2020 22:22 GMT
Harvey Weinstein leaves the courtroom during his trial on 28 January 2020 in New York City.
Harvey Weinstein leaves the courtroom during his trial on 28 January 2020 in New York City. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein assured a reporter he’s not afraid of Chihuahuas after the animal came up in court testimony.

Elizabeth Entin, the roommate of one of the women who have come forward against Weinstein, took the stand on Tuesday.

Entin used to live with Mimi Haleyi, who alleges Weinstein attacked her in 2006.

While she was being cross-examined by Donna Rotunno, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, Entin recalled thinking at first that it was just “stupid” that Weinstein allegedly kept showing up unannounced at the women’s apartment.

“Because this older guy was trying to get your friend? Correct?” Rotunno asked.

“Correct,” Entin said.

“And you thought it funny?” Rotnunno asked.

“We did, at the time,” Entin said, recalling how her pet Chihuahua, Peanut, once chased Weinstein around the apartment.

According to Entin, the women viewed Weinstein “as a pathetic older man trying really hard to hit on” Haleyi.

As Weinstein left the courtroom around 11am, a reporter in the hall asked, “Mr Weinstein, are you afraid of Chihuahuas?”

Weinstein laughed as he heard the question and smiled. “Do I look like I’m afraid of Chihuahuas?” he replied.

The former Hollywood mogul is accused of performing a forcible sex act on Haleyi in 2006 and raping another woman in 2013. He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. He has also denied retaliating against women.

If convicted on the most serious charges against him, Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Additional reporting by agencies

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in