What was meant to be another day in court for Harvey Weinstein’s retrial took a dramatic turn Tuesday when a brief but intense gesture from his accuser sparked chaos — and what appeared to be a sudden “medical episode” from the former movie mogul.
Jessica Mann, one of Weinstein’s accusers, had just finished her emotional testimony describing in painful detail the alleged sexual assault she endured.
But it was her parting gesture toward Weinstein — pointing from her eyes to him — that turned the courtroom upside down.
Accuser’s Silent Gesture Sparks Drama
As she walked past the defense table, Mann, 38, locked eyes with Weinstein and made a deliberate motion — pointing at her eyes and then at him. It seemed to silently say, “Look at me.”
This simple, silent act drew a quick objection from Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, who immediately called for a mistrial.
He claimed the gesture was meant to influence the jury and that it crossed a line, especially after such an emotional testimony.
Moments later, Weinstein, 73, began making strange gurgling noises, alarming everyone in the room. Two court officers rushed to his side.
He took a sip of water, and just like that, the unsettling episode passed.
Defense Pushes for Mistrial Over Emotional Testimony
Aidala didn’t stop there. He questioned the overall emotional display from Mann during her testimony, including her tearful pauses and labored breathing.
He argued that the courtroom scene was too emotionally charged and unfairly prejudicial against his client.
According to Mann, Weinstein violently assaulted her in a Beverly Hills hotel room in early 2014, allegedly shouting, “You owe me one more time!” as he raped her.
She described the disturbing scene to the New York jury, while Weinstein watched from the defense table, shaking his head in denial.
A Look at the Charges and Previous Claims
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to raping Mann in New York in 2013, and to other charges related to alleged sexual assaults against two other women in 2006.
His lawyers also objected to the inclusion of Mann’s story from Los Angeles — an incident Weinstein hasn’t been charged for in this trial.
They argued it further warranted tossing the case.
However, Judge Curtis Farber stood firm. He reminded the court that such context was legally allowed, especially when it helps establish patterns in the accused’s behavior.
As for Mann’s gesture, he added, “I can’t control what people do in the courtroom, nor what jurors may make of it.”
A Complicated Relationship at the Center of It All
Mann first met Weinstein more than a decade ago in Los Angeles while pursuing an acting career.
She has previously described their relationship as on-and-off and initially consensual — but one that quickly turned toxic.
She claimed that Weinstein, who was married at the time, became manipulative and aggressive.
If she ever refused him, she said, he became violent and coercive.
From Power Player to Prisoner With a Pen
Despite being behind bars, Weinstein insists he still has a hand in the film world.
In a recent jailhouse interview with conservative commentator Candace Owens, Weinstein claimed he’s still reviewing screenplays.
“I have friends in the industry who still slip me their scripts and ask me for notes,” he said. “I just give them my honest thoughts.”
Why This Trial Is Happening Again
This high-profile retrial only came about because Weinstein’s original 2020 conviction was overturned.
New York’s top court ruled that the first trial included improper rulings and testimony that may have unfairly influenced the outcome.
That conviction had sentenced him to 23 years in prison.
Now, Weinstein is facing a second chance at defending himself in New York — even while an appeal is still pending in California, where he’s already been sentenced to 16 years for another rape conviction from 2022.
The Legacy of the #MeToo Movement
Weinstein, once a dominant force in Hollywood, became the face of the #MeToo movement after explosive allegations against him first surfaced in 2017.
His downfall opened the floodgates for countless others to speak out about sexual abuse and power dynamics in the entertainment industry.
Now, as the retrial unfolds with emotional testimonies and unexpected turns, the case is once again drawing national attention — not just because of what’s at stake for Weinstein, but because of what it symbolizes for survivors everywhere.