Harvey Weinstein isn’t going down without a fight.
The disgraced former Hollywood powerhouse, now 73 years old, is battling serious health issues while locked up in a special hospital unit in New York City.
Stricken with leukemia and other ailments, he’s desperate to clear his name before his time runs out.
Despite the weight of his convictions, Weinstein continues to proclaim his innocence.
He argues that he was unfairly targeted by the #MeToo movement and a wave of feminist outrage sweeping the entertainment industry.
From his hospital bed, he’s focused on one thing — getting revenge on those he believes betrayed him.
Targeting Hollywood Elites and Journalists
In a rare interview, Weinstein didn’t hold back about who he blames for his downfall.
Among those he’s singled out are Peter Jackson, the director behind the “Lord of the Rings” films, and journalists from The New York Times who broke the story that exposed him.
The initial spark came from a 2017 article featuring actress Ashley Judd’s accusations of sexual harassment, which Weinstein insists were false.
He’s now demanding that the Pulitzer Prize Board revoke the awards given to reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for that investigation, dismissing their work as far from journalism greatness.
“They’re not Woodward and Bernstein, they’re Thelma and Louise!” Weinstein said, clearly scornful of their reporting.
Renewed Feud with Peter Jackson Over Casting Claims
Another target of Weinstein’s ire is director Peter Jackson, who claimed that Weinstein and Miramax actively discouraged casting Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino in the “Lord of the Rings” movies.
Jackson has said he now suspects this was part of a smear campaign to keep the actresses out.
Weinstein vehemently denies these accusations and has challenged Jackson to publicly restate his claims so they can debate them head-on.
He calls Jackson “jealous” and suggests his statements fueled many of the allegations against him.
According to Weinstein, their conflict stemmed from disagreements over the trilogy’s budget and creative control, not any personal vendetta against the actresses.
He points out that although New Line Pictures eventually took over and let Jackson direct freely, Weinstein still profited as an executive producer — something he says may have stoked Jackson’s resentment.
Legal Battles and Hope for Vindication
As Weinstein faces a retrial in New York on sexual assault charges and awaits the outcome of an appeal in California related to a 16-year rape sentence, he remains confident he will be vindicated.
He believes the #MeToo movement is losing momentum and that people are finally starting to listen to his side.
“I think there’s a real movement now to telling the truth,” he said, claiming his accusers were motivated by money.
However, he also acknowledged the grim reality of his health.
“If the reverse happens, my health is in jeopardy,” he admitted.
Health Challenges Behind Bars
Weinstein is dealing with multiple serious health conditions including leukemia, diabetes, spinal stenosis, and a possible immune disorder.
His mobility has deteriorated to the point where court officers have to wheel him in and out of the courtroom.
Currently held at Bellevue Hospital during his retrial, he fears returning to Rikers Island jail, describing it as “medieval” and dangerous given his fragile state.
Life behind bars has also given Weinstein time to reflect on how far he’s fallen—from a struggling young man hitchhiking across America to a man facing possible death in custody.
He recalls a moment of kindness from a stranger who gave him $1.10 when he was broke, contrasting that with the harshness of prison life.
Plans for the Future if Freed
If he ever regains his freedom, Weinstein says he wants to open a halfway house to help former inmates reintegrate into society.
He insists on the importance of rehabilitation over just punishment.
While he admits to some personal flaws, including cheating on his wife and having a bad temper, Weinstein denies any illegal behavior.
“I might have been immoral in my actions with other women, but I certainly did nothing illegal,” he stressed.
The Retrial That Could Change Everything
Weinstein’s retrial in Manhattan is nearing its conclusion.
This case centers on accusations by three women, including Jessica Mann and Mimi Haley, who say Weinstein sexually assaulted them years ago.
Last year, New York’s highest court overturned his initial conviction and sentence due to trial fairness concerns.
The retrial also introduced allegations from a former model claiming forced oral sex.
Weinstein’s defense argues that any sexual encounters were consensual and part of career negotiations.
Meanwhile, his lawyers are also fighting an appeal of his California conviction, which carries a 16-year sentence.