Hollywood actresses slam Harvey Weinstein over sexual harassment claims

Meryl Streep

Hollywood actresses like Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Winslet, among others, have condemned producer Harvey Weinstein amid a growing number of sexual harassment allegations against him. However, besides George Clooney, other actors have not opened up on the case yet. Weinstein, who has been fired from The Weinstein Company, has been accused by multiple women of sexually harassing them over a period of nearly three decades. He reportedly invited women to hotel rooms for business reasons and then greeted them nude or asked them to massage him or watch him shower.

Meryl Streep

Filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, David O Russell and Michael Moore have refused to comment on the issue, reports theguardian.com. "I was deeply disturbed to hear the news about Harvey Weinstein's behaviour. I worked with Harvey five years ago and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting," Lawrence said. Streep said that "the disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled" all the people who have worked with him.

She added: "The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes. One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally." Dench said that like others in the industry, she too was "completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying". "I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out," she said.

Winslet called all the women who have accused Weinstein "brave" and said: "The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is not the way women should ever deem to be acceptable or commonplace in any workplace." Actor-filmmaker George Clooney didn't slam Weinstein, but called the allegations "indefensible".

"That's the only word you can start with. 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 in '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 behaviour -- ever."