Video of Harvey Weinstein emerges showing him inappropriately touching woman during meeting
The businesswoman was pitching her company’s video and analytics service to the former film producer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A video of Harvey Weinstein behaving inappropriately with a businesswoman has emerged.
Footage shows the former film producer touching and making sexually suggestive comments to Melissa Thompson, who was at Weinstein’s offices in New York for a meeting in 2011.
Ms Thompson alleges that a few hours later Weinstein raped her at a nearby hotel.
The businesswoman was pitching her company’s video and analytics service to Weinstein.
In the video, which was obtained by Sky News, when Ms Thompson walks in to the meeting and offers a handshake, Weinstein pushes her hand away and instead hugs her.
While doing so he runs his hands across her back and says “that's nice, let's keep it up”.
Weinstein then continues to make a number of suggestive comments and later on he can be seen reaching down under the table.
At this point Ms Thompson claims he ran his hand up her leg under the dress.
Weinstein can be heard in the video saying: “Let me have a little part of you. Give it to me. It’s OK, would you like to do it some more?”
Ms Thompson replies: “A little high, that’s a little high, that’s a little high.”
At the end of the meeting Weinstein asked to meet Ms Thompson in the Tribeca Grand Hotel lobby restaurant and the businesswoman claimed she thought he was trying to close a potential deal.
Ms Thompson said Weinstein came to the lobby and told her to follow him. He then allegedly took her to his hotel room and raped her.
“If I would try to fight myself away from him, he would then move around to a place where he could block me in. I constantly felt trapped, no matter where I turned. He corned me, over and over again,” Ms Thompson told Sky News.
The recording and alleged rape are being used as part of a civil suit against Weinstein.
Dozens of women have accused Weinstein of assault and harassment and he currently faces both criminal charges and civil suits.
Weinstein has always denied all allegations of non-consensual sexual contact.
In a statement Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Benjamin Brafman said: “Several respected journalists and trustworthy individuals have seen the entire video.
“What they shared with us is that the video, when viewed in its entirety, in context and not in select excerpts, demonstrates that there is nothing forceful, but casual – if not awkward – flirting from both parties.
“Anything short of that is intended to make Mr Weinstein appear inappropriate, and even exploitative.
“It was produced by Ms Thompson to bolster her position in a civil lawsuit seeking money.
“This is a further attempt to publicly disgrace Mr Weinstein for financial gain, and we will not stand for it.
“Facts do matter.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.