Harvey Weinstein has released a statement about Gwyneth Paltrow’s cover interview with Variety, refuting a casting anecdote she recalled about a film they made together.
The disgraced film producer, who has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by dozens of women, disputed Paltrow’s account of who he originally wanted to play the lead role in Oscar-winning drama, Shakespeare In Love.
Paltrow said Weinstein wanted Ben Affleck to play the role, but that Paltrow insisted on casting an English actor – namely Joseph Fiennes, who was eventually cast as the male lead.
However, Weinstein remembers it differently. In a statement, he said: “Gwyneth Paltrow is an excellent actor and a fantastic person, who does so well when on the right project. The only other contenders for the role of Will Shakespeare were Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke, no one else. Ben Affleck did a terrific job as Ned Alleyn, which is the role he was considered for.”
In the same interview, Paltrow described Weinstein as a “bully” and explained she once felt a sense of duty to stand up to him. In May 2018, Paltrow claimed that Brad Pitt threatened to kill the producer for allegedly sexually harassing her when she was 22.
Game of Thrones star Lena Headey recently elaborated on allegations she made against Weinstein, telling The Sunday Times that she believes her refusal to have sex with him hurt her career “for a decade”.
Weinstein has denied all allegations and a representative for the producer has refuted Paltrow’s account of their working relationship.
