A-list actor and Academy Award winner George Clooney has become the most high-profile male star to slam Harvey Weinstein over the sexual harassment allegations against him.
Clooney has known Weinstein for 20 years and was given his first major role on the big screen by him. In an interview with The Daily Beast published Monday, Clooney called Weinstein’s actions “indefensible” but admitted that he had never witnessed them first hand.
“It’s indefensible. That’s the only word you can start with,” Clooney said. “Harvey’s admitted to it, and it’s indefensible. I’ve known Harvey for 20 years. He gave me my first big break as an actor in films on “From Dusk Till Dawn,” he gave me my first big break as a director with “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.” We’ve had dinners, we’ve been on location together, we’ve had arguments. But I can tell you that I’ve never seen any of this behavior—ever.”
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Meryl Streep and Dame Judi Dench – who have both won Oscars for films shepherded by Weinstein – also released statements after the allegations surfaced. Streep said she was unaware of Weinstein’s “inappropriate, coercive acts,” calling them “disgraceful” and an “abuse of power,” while Dench also said she was not aware of the “horrifying” allegations.
Among Weinstein’s accuses are actress Ashley Judd and local television reporter Lauren Sivan, who both described similar horrific scenarios involving Weinstein.
Over the weekend, Weinstein was fired from the Weinstein Company, which he co-founded with his brother, Bob.
(H/T: The Daily Beast)