Salma Hayek has joined the chorus of brave women coming forward to denounce Harvey Weinstein, describing him as "my monster too."
In a compelling op-ed featured in The New York Times, Hayek recounted her journey while making "Frida," the 2002 film chronicling the life of the renowned Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. This project, which she both produced and starred in, was developed under the banner of Weinstein's former company, Miramax.
After securing Weinstein's support for the film, Hayek revealed, "It would become my turn to say no." The disgraced film mogul relentlessly harassed her, with unwelcome visits at her door at all hours, spanning various hotels and locations. She recounted his repeated indecent proposals, which included requests to share a shower, provide a massage, engage in oral s-x, and more.
With each refusal, Hayek noted, "Harvey's Machiavellian rage" surfaced. It became evident that Weinstein detested the word "no" more than anything else.
Harvey Weinstein has faced numerous allegations of s-xual misconduct and, in some instances, assault, from a multitude of women, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Annabella Sciorra, and others.
Responding to Hayek's claims, a spokesperson for Weinstein issued a lengthy statement to ABC News, contesting her account (the full statement can be found at the end of this article).
Salma Hayek disclosed that Weinstein went so far as to threaten to take away her script and role in "Frida." He imposed seemingly insurmountable demands, such as raising $10 million and securing an A-list director – all of which she met to ensure the film's continuation.
Once the filming commenced, she noted, "The s-xual harassment stopped but the rage escalated." Weinstein insisted that she participate in a fully n--- s-x scene with co-star Ashley Judd, and, as Hayek stated, "It was clear to me he would never let me finish this movie without him having his fantasy one way or another."
Reluctantly, the actress agreed, though she suffered a nervous breakdown during the scene's shooting. She had to distance herself from the project once filming concluded. Despite these challenges, "Frida" went on to receive six Academy Award nominations and two Oscars. Surprisingly, Weinstein never offered her another leading role for the remainder of her contract with Miramax.
Hayek raised a poignant question in her op-ed, "Why do so many of us, as female artists, have to go to war to tell our stories when we have so much to offer? Why do we have to fight tooth and nail to maintain our dignity?" She highlighted the devaluation of women in the industry to an unacceptable level, emphasizing that true equality in the field is essential to thwart predatory behavior.
A spokesperson for Harvey Weinstein released the following statement:
Mr. Weinstein holds Salma Hayek in high regard as a first-class actress, casting her in several of his movies, including "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," "Dogma," and "Studio 54." He took immense pride in her Best Actress Academy Award nomination for "Frida" and continues to support her work.
Although Jennifer Lopez expressed interest in playing Frida and was a bigger star at the time, Mr. Weinstein backed Salma as the lead, overriding other investors. Miramax provided half of the budget and covered all advertising and promotional expenses; the total budget exceeded $12 million. As with most collaborative projects, creative conflicts arose during the making of "Frida," ultimately leading to a superior end product. The movie was widely released, accompanied by an extensive Academy Awards campaign.
Mr. Weinstein disputes any recollection of pressuring Salma to engage in a gratuitous s-x scene with a female co-star, as he was not present during the filming. However, it's important to note that the portrayal of Frida Kahlo's bis-xuality included a significant s-x scene choreographed by Ms. Hayek and Geoffrey Rush. Allegations made by Salma regarding s-xual misconduct do not align with the accounts of others who witnessed the events.
Ed Norton, who was Ms. Hayek's boyfriend at the time, contributed to the script's rewrite while working with Mr. Weinstein in Mexico. Despite Mr. Weinstein's efforts to secure Norton a credit for his work from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), this attempt proved unsuccessful, much to everyone's disappointment.
Mr. Weinstein himself admitted that his brusque behavior following a screening of "Frida" was attributed to his dissatisfaction with the film's edit. He played an active role in the final editing process alongside the skilled director Julie Taymor.
